The Strait of Hormuz has become one of the world's most dangerous commercial shipping routes since the US-Iran conflict erupted on February 28, 2026. As
military operations intensified, merchant vessels navigating the strategic waterway have increasingly found themselves caught in missile attacks, naval operations and crossfire between Iranian forces and the United States. Among those paying the highest price have been Indian seafarers, who make up one of the largest workforces in the global merchant shipping industry. Based on publicly reported incidents since the conflict began, at least seven Indian sailors have been killed in attacks across the Strait of Hormuz and adjoining waters, while several others have suffered injuries. The United Nations said last month that at least 14 seafarers had been killed in attacks around the strategic waterway since the outbreak of the conflict, with Indian nationals accounting for a significant proportion of the fatalities.
Timeline Of Indian Fatalities
The first reported deaths came during the opening phase of the conflict. On March 1, an Indian crew member aboard the Marshall Islands-flagged MKD Vyom oil tanker was killed after the vessel came under attack. While no group claimed responsibility, the US military blamed Iranian forces for the strike.
The same day, two more Indian sailors were killed when the Palau-flagged tanker Skylight was attacked near Oman's Musandam Peninsula, one of the key approaches to the Strait of Hormuz. Together, these incidents brought the death toll among Indian seafarers to three within the first 48 hours of the conflict.
Deaths Continue As Conflict Expands
The casualties continued as hostilities widened. On May 8, another Indian sailor lost his life after a wooden dhow carrying Indian crew members caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz under circumstances linked to the deteriorating regional security situation.
On June 9, three Indian crew members were killed aboard the oil tanker Settebello off the coast of Oman during a US military strike. US forces said the vessel had violated the naval blockade imposed on Iranian ports following the expansion of military operations in April, making it the deadliest single incident involving Indian seafarers since the conflict began.
The latest fatality occurred on July 13, when Iranian cruise missiles struck two UAE oil tankers transiting the southern shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz. UAE authorities confirmed that one Indian crew member was killed, while eight others were injured, including six Indian sailors and two Ukrainian nationals.
Taken together, these publicly reported incidents indicate that at least seven Indian sailors have been killed since the conflict began, with many more injured while serving aboard commercial vessels navigating the region. The fatalities have occurred during attacks attributed to multiple actors, reflecting the increasingly volatile maritime environment surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
