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India Calls In US Diplomat Again Over Attacks on Ships Near Oman
(MENAFN) India summoned a senior US diplomat in New Delhi for the second time in a week on Friday, lodging a formal protest over attacks on commercial vessels off the coast of Oman amid the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, official sources told media.
Jason Meeks, the chargé d'affaires of the US diplomatic mission, was called to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs to protest the strikes on civilian shipping vessels, the sources said.
On Thursday, the Indian government confirmed that at least three Indian nationals were killed after US forces targeted vessels off the Omani coast.
India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that during Friday's summoning it had "conveyed its deep concern over the use of lethal and deadly force against civilian shipping."
"Such actions are unacceptable and undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce in a sensitive region at a difficult time," the ministry said.
New Delhi said Meeks was urged to "convey India's strong concerns" to his authorities and to "ensure that U.S. forces operating in the region take all necessary measures to prevent the loss of civilian life."
This follows a previous summoning of Meeks on Wednesday, when New Delhi first registered its protest over the attacks.
An official from India's External Affairs Ministry confirmed Thursday that the US Navy had launched strikes on three vessels carrying Indian crew members off the coast of Oman, all of which were foreign-flagged.
According to the US Central Command, it disabled Guinea-Bissau-flagged M/T Jalveer, Palau-flagged tankers M/T Marivex and M/T Settebello, for trying to transport Iranian oil this week.
While Iran has imposed its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the US has locked Iranian ports since April 13 amid the war, which began on Feb. 28.
CENTCOM has said American forces have disabled nine non-compliant vessels, redirected 135 ships that complied, and allowed 42 vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass since initiating the blockade on April 13.
Jason Meeks, the chargé d'affaires of the US diplomatic mission, was called to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs to protest the strikes on civilian shipping vessels, the sources said.
On Thursday, the Indian government confirmed that at least three Indian nationals were killed after US forces targeted vessels off the Omani coast.
India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that during Friday's summoning it had "conveyed its deep concern over the use of lethal and deadly force against civilian shipping."
"Such actions are unacceptable and undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce in a sensitive region at a difficult time," the ministry said.
New Delhi said Meeks was urged to "convey India's strong concerns" to his authorities and to "ensure that U.S. forces operating in the region take all necessary measures to prevent the loss of civilian life."
This follows a previous summoning of Meeks on Wednesday, when New Delhi first registered its protest over the attacks.
An official from India's External Affairs Ministry confirmed Thursday that the US Navy had launched strikes on three vessels carrying Indian crew members off the coast of Oman, all of which were foreign-flagged.
According to the US Central Command, it disabled Guinea-Bissau-flagged M/T Jalveer, Palau-flagged tankers M/T Marivex and M/T Settebello, for trying to transport Iranian oil this week.
While Iran has imposed its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the US has locked Iranian ports since April 13 amid the war, which began on Feb. 28.
CENTCOM has said American forces have disabled nine non-compliant vessels, redirected 135 ships that complied, and allowed 42 vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass since initiating the blockade on April 13.
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