India Condemns Attack On Ship GFS Galaxy Off Oman, Which Leaves 1 Among 11 Crew Members Missing

India has condemned the attack on the cargo ship GFS Galaxy off Oman, which had 11 Indian crew members, all of whom have been rescued, except one who remains missing.

India’s External Ministry said that the Indian Embassy in Muscat is monitoring the situation and coordinating with Omani authorities for the search and rescue operation.

The Cyprus-flagged merchant vessel was hit by what Iran called a ‘warning shot’. The ship was on fire after it was struck, which led to the crew to abandon it.

Iran has claimed that the vessel was trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz through a route close to Oman, which is not authorised by the Islamic Republic.

After the incident, Iran announced that the Strait is closed again to all commercial vessels and warned of ‘severe response’ to any retaliatory attempts.

India criticised the repeated attacks on commercial ships in the Hormuz and called for establishing peace.

“The continuing incidents of attacks on commercial shipping in the region are deeply worrisome. We reiterate our call for immediate de-escalation of tensions and the conclusion of ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic solution so that peace and stability can return to the region,” the statement said.

The attack comes amidst worsening diplomatic ties between the U.S and Iran. While talks brought hopes of regional peace, Trump’s declaration that the deal with Iran is ‘over’ and Iran’s response to not negotiate with the U.S further have led to concerns among energy markets and the shipping industry in general.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that it struck atleast 140 Iranian military targets, including missile and drone sites, ammunition storage facilities, naval ships, communication networks, and coastal surveillance sites.

This is the third wave of U.S strikes on Iran this week, with over 300 targets hit across three nights, CENTCOM added.

Iran, in response, attacked several countries in the Middle East, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.