New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday issued a statement condemning the military attack on Thailand’s commercial vehicle in the Strait
of Hormuz. It also warned that targeting civilian ships might take the conflict to a dangerous level.
Ship got struck while passing through Strait of Hormuz
In its statement, the MEA said that the lethality of the attacks only seemed to be increasing. Notably, the ship, Mayuree Naree, got struck while it was passing through the Strait of Hormuz, while on its way to Kandla in Gujarat, a major port in the state.
“India deplores the fact that commercial shipping is being made a target of military attacks in the ongoing conflict in West Asia,” the MEA said, adding that “the intensity and lethality of the attacks only seems to be increasing.” It also noted that among those killed in the earlier maritime attacks were Indians.
In its message, the MEA urged countries to avoid targeting commercial ships and endangering lives of crew members. It called for the freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of maritime commerce.
22 crew members rescued
The Omani navy launched rescue operations shortly after the attack. It rescued as many as 22 crew members, while efforts are on to search for three missing sailors. Soon after the rescue of 22 sailors, they were pulled out of the water. The fire in the ship was later brought under control. “The specific details and cause of the attack are currently under investigation,” the Thai navy said.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said that a cargo vessel was hit by a projectile near Oman, which led to fire onboard. It also asked vessels in the region to exercise caution.
