Image for representation purposes only India summoned the U.S. Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission Jason Meeks in New Delhi, after the U.S. Navy attacked the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello, with 24 Indian Seafarers off Oman. The Modi government faced pressure from opposition leaders to call out the United States over what they said was the second attack on a commercial vessel with an Indian crew. Critics said that the Indian government did not protest against the U.S. attack on the tanker MT Marivex earlier this week. The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said that it carried out a strike on the chemical/oil products tanker Settebello as it sailed through the Gulf of Oman, loaded with Iranian oil on Tuesday, adding that the crew did not pay heed to the instructions from U.S personnel. The tanker reported fire in its engine room, 20 nm northeast of Oman’s Port of Sohar. Fortunately, the Navy of Oman reached to the site after acknowledging the distress call and rescued 21 sailors, while 3 have gone missing. Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned the U.S. action and violence. “Our embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and proactively coordinating with the Omani authorities in the ongoing search and rescue operation,” the ministry said in a statement. “The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end.” Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of ‌the ‌UN’s shipping agency, the International Maritime Organisation, on Wednesday said “any act from any party that endangers the lives of seafarers and the safety of international shipping”. “This is simply unacceptable. My thoughts are with the families of the three missing seafarers and with all those awaiting news of the crew members,” he said. U.S naval attacks on ships in the region have intensified questions around the legality of the U.S naval blockade of Hormuz, which has impacted Washington’s allies and partner countries negatively. This incident