India Condemns Commercial Vessel Attacks in Hormuz and Black Sea

The Ministry of External Affairs of India condemned two separate attacks on commercial vessels in international waterways on October 6, 2026. In the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, a projectile struck the Panama-flagged MT On Peace, injuring 12 of the 19 crew members. Eleven of the injured are Indian nationals. Omani authorities assisted in evacuating the victims to Khasab for medical treatment.

Simultaneously, a commercial vessel in the Black Sea was attacked, killing two foreign nationals and injuring several others, including one Indian national. Romanian authorities rescued the crew and provided care at Constanța County Hospital. The Indian Embassy in Romania confirmed that three Indian nationals were on board and are now safe.

These incidents occur amid heightened maritime instability. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran forced a commercial tanker to turn back near Khasab after hailing and threatening the vessel. In response to the broader trend of maritime violence, India recently collaborated with Liberia to launch a 25-nation Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers at the UN General Assembly to protect merchant crews and commercial shipping routes.