Indian sailor killed in Iranian strike on oil tankers in Strait of Hormuz

One Indian crew member was killed, and eight others were wounded in an Iranian missile strike targeting two Emirati oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s (Adnoc) shipping arm confirmed that two of its very large crude carriers were struck and sustained “significant damage” while passing through the strait.

Adnoc has been among the most active participants in a US-led operation to move Gulf crude out to international buyers through ship-to-ship (STS) transfers beyond the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

Oman’s Maritime Security Centre said on Tuesday that it evacuated eighteen crew members from one of the tankers after it was targeted near the country’s coast, while three others remained missing.

The Indian government also issued a statement confirming that an Indian national had died on board one of the ships.

Of the eight wounded, four were seriously injured, according to the UAE defence ministry.