New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Thursday that an Indian-flagged commercial vessel, identified as the MSV Haji Ali, sank following a suspected drone or missile strike off the northern coast of Oman. The incident occurred early Wednesday morning near Limah while the Gujarat-owned vessel was en route from Berbera, Somalia, to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Despite the severity of the explosion and the subsequent fire that led to the ship sinking, all 14 Indian crew members on board were successfully evacuated and are reported to be safe.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal issued a stern statement describing the strike on the civilian vessel as unacceptable. The Indian government expressed its deep concern over the continued targeting of commercial shipping and civilian mariners in international waters, noting that such acts of aggression should be avoided to ensure the freedom of navigation and commerce. While the ministry did not explicitly name a perpetrator for the strike, it strongly deplored the escalation of violence that endangers innocent lives at sea.
The rescue operation was carried out by the Oman Coast Guard, which responded to distress signals after the vessel lost stability. The sailors were brought safely to Deeba port, and the ship’s owner, Sultan Ahmed Sanghar of Dwarka, later confirmed the safety of his employees. The vessel was reportedly carrying livestock at the time of the explosion, which occurred around 3:30 am local time in a region that has seen increasing maritime instability due to wider regional conflicts.
This incident coincides with a high-profile meeting of BRICS foreign ministers currently taking place in New Delhi. During the summit, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the vital importance of maintaining safe and unimpeded maritime flows through critical waterways like the Strait of Hormuz. The attack on the Haji Ali underscores the growing vulnerability of commercial routes in West Asia and highlights the urgent need for international cooperation to protect maritime security amidst escalating geopolitical tensions.
