"Closely monitoring situation": Indian Embassy in UAE condoles sailor's death in Hormuz tanker attack
Abu Dhabi, July 14
Expressing deep grief over the incident, the Indian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates condoled the loss of life of the Indian seafarer and said that it is closely monitoring the situation.
In a post on X, the Embassy stated, "We condole the tragic loss of an Indian seafarer in the attacks on two vessels, Al Bahiyah & Mombasa B. We are closely monitoring the situation and are in touch with the local authorities to render all possible assistance to the injured and families."
Following the incident, India lodged a strong protest with Iran over the attack on Indian seafarers in Hormuz.
India today summoned Iranian diplomats, including Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Mohammad Javad Hosseini, following the latest attack on United Arab Emirates (UAE) merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, which killed one Indian and injured several others.
Detailing the casualties, an Indian sailor was killed and six others were injured after a strike by Iran on the UAE oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. Following this, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned the Iranian envoys to convey New Delhi's serious concerns.
Providing operational details of the strike, maritime reports indicated that two UAE tankers were hit by two Iranian cruise missiles in the Strait of Hormuz in Omani territorial waters. The tankers, Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, were struck while transiting the southern passage of the Strait of Hormuz.
Regarding the impact on the vessels, the UAE's Ministry of Defence said the attack also caused material damage to both tankers after fires broke out on board. The ministry confirmed that the fires have since been brought under control due to swift emergency responses.
Condemning the aggression, the Ministry of Defence strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a serious violation of international law that threatens regional security and stability. Asserting its sovereignty, the ministry said the UAE reserves the full right to respond to the escalation and will take all necessary measures to protect its territory, people, residents, national interests and strategic assets.
Reiterating its defensive readiness, the ministry added that it remains fully prepared to deal with any threats and urged the public to obtain information only from official sources and refrain from spreading rumours or unverified information.
— ANI
Reader Comments
😢 Heartbreaking to hear about this. The Strait of Hormuz is such a vital waterway for global trade and our Indian seafarers work there risking their lives daily. I hope the injured recover soon and their families get proper compensation. The UAE's response shows they take this seriously, but international law needs to be enforced better to prevent such attacks.
Respectful criticism: While I appreciate the embassy monitoring the situation, we need to ask why Indian sailors are still working in such dangerous waters without adequate safety measures? The government should work with shipping companies to provide better protection or avoid routes near conflict zones. One life lost is one too many. 🇮🇳
This is a serious escalation in the region. Iran targeting commercial vessels in international waters, even if in Omani territorial waters per the report, is unacceptable. India's strong protest is warranted, but I hope diplomatic channels can de-escalate before more innocent lives are affected. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims.
The UAE's statement is strong - they reserve the right to respond and this is indeed a serious violation of international law. But as an Indian, I'm more concerned about our own people. We have lakhs of Indians working in the Gulf region. The government needs to issue travel advisories and ensure emergency evacuation plans are in place. Safety first! 🙏
Such incidents remind us how fragile peace is in the Middle East. My cousin works on a tanker in similar waters and I'm worried sick. The Indian embassy doing its job is good, but prevention is better than cure. International maritime security needs a serious overhaul
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