West Asia crisis: Indian national killed in attack on oil tanker

New Delhi: An Indian crew member of a US-owned oil tanker has been killed after the vessel came under attack in the waters near Iraq's Basra. The Indian embassy in Iraq, confirming the death, said 15 other Indian crew members onboard the ship were evaluated. Commercial ships in the Persian Gulf have been targeted by the Iranian military in the last few days. "On March 11, 2026, a US-owned crude oil tanker, Safesea Vishnu, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, was attacked near Basra, Iraq, in which one Indian crew member unfortunately lost his life," the Indian embassy in Iraq said on social media. "The remaining 15 Indian crew have since been evacuated to a safe place," it said. The embassy said it is in regular contact with Iraqi authorities and rescued Indian sailors and is offering all possible assistance to them. The mission extended its "deepest condolences to the family members of the deceased crew member."