Two Indians have been killed in an attack on an oil tanker 'Skylight' in the Gulf of Oman. This comes as conflict between US-Israel and Iran has intensified and entered its sixth day. Iran has been attacking several Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, as retaliatory measure against the United States.

The two killed have been been identified as Captain Ashish Kumar from Bihar and a crew member Dalip Singh from Rajasthan, according to an NDTV report. A Palau-flagged oil tanker was attacked near Oman's Musandam Peninsula, following drone strikes on the Duqm port on Sunday. The attack injured four crew members. According to The Oman Maritime Security Centre (MSC), the vessel was sailing with a 20-person crew, including 15 Indians and five Iranian citizens. It had earlier stated that all the individuals were evacuated; however, the death of two Indian crew members has now come to light.

"The Maritime Security Centre announces that the oil tanker (SKYLIGHT), flying the flag of the Republic of (Palau), was targeted 5 nautical miles north of Khasab Port in the Musandam Governorate, and all crew members of the tanker, consisting of 20 individuals--including 15 holding Indian nationality and 5 of Iranian nationality have been evacuated," the MSC had posted, not disclosing what had hit the tanker.

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Who were the two Indians killed?

According to an NDTV report citing government information, the remains of two people were recovered. The bodies are said to have been burnt in the attack. Ashish's remains were recovered from the captain's cabin. Ashish had joined the Merchant Navy on January 20. His first enlistment was in Dubai. According to his brother, Akash, Ashish had boarded an Oman-bound Skylight ship on February 22, and was serving as captain. While Dalip Singh was a resident of Khinwatana village in Rajasthan's Nagaur and had started his duty on January 22. He was serving as a crew member on Skylight. According to PTI, Singh was in the forward section of the ship with Ashish.

The development follows Iran's warning that the Strait of Hormuz was closed and it will attack on any ship trying to pass. "The strait (of Hormuz) is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze," Ebrahim Jabari, a senior advisor to the Guards commander-in-chief stated.

India's take on attacks on shipping vessels

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on March 1, said that India opposes attacks on shipping vessels, stating that it "strongly reiterates its call for dialogue and diplomacy." "As a country whose nationals are prominent in the global workforce, India is also firmly opposed to attacks on merchant shipping. Already, some Indian nationals have lost their lives or are missing as a result of such attacks in the last few days," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

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