Attack on commercial ship near Oman: 10 Indians safe, 1 missing; Iran-US tensions escalate further
New Delhi/Muscat: The Indian government has expressed strong concern following an attack on the commercial vessel *GFS Galaxy* near the coast of Oman. Condemning the attack on Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that out of the 11 Indian nationals on board, 10 have been safely rescued, while one remains missing. A joint search and rescue operation with Omani authorities is currently underway to locate him.
The MEA stated that the Indian Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and is coordinating with local authorities to provide all possible assistance. India has expressed its gratitude to the Omani government for its cooperation in this operation.
Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) has claimed that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked the Cyprus-flagged container ship *GFS Galaxy* in the Strait of Hormuz, causing severe damage to the vessel's engine room and sparking a fire. As a result, the ship was unable to continue its voyage.
On the other hand, according to Iranian state media, the IRGC maintains that action was taken against the ship because it had switched off its tracking system and deviated from the designated maritime route. The IRGC also claimed that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed until further notice.
The tensions did not stop there. The US military claimed to have struck approximately 140 Iranian military targets. In response, Iran launched a counter-attack from its southern coast, claiming to have targeted the command and control center and the MQ-9 drone hangar at Jordan's Prince Hassan Air Base.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated, "Iran has made a wrong decision, and now it will have to pay the price." Meanwhile, the IRGC has warned that if the US takes any further aggressive action, its new military bases in the region will also be targeted.
Amid rising tensions, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have also declared a state of high alert. Sirens have been sounded in Bahrain as a precautionary measure, while the UAE has stepped up security preparations to deal with potential missile attacks.
India has once again urged all parties to exercise restraint, immediately de-escalate tensions, and pursue a diplomatic solution to ensure peace, stability, and the security of global maritime trade in the region.
