All Crew on MT Liaki Freedom Safe: MEA Refutes Reports of Attack On Fourth Indian-Crewed Vessel

India on Saturday clarified that all Indian crew members aboard the vessel Liaki Freedom are safe, dismissing earlier reports of casualties in an alleged overnight attack off the coast of Oman as false.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that it has established direct contact with the Master of the Marshall Islands-flagged tankship, who safety-checked the entire crew.

MEA Dismisses False Reports on 'Liaki Freedom'

"We have spoken with the Master of the vessel Liaki Freedom, who has confirmed that all crew members are safe and that the reported information is false," the MEA said in an official statement. The government's fact-checking wing, MEA Fact Check, also urged social media users to remain vigilant against baseless claims and misinformation surrounding the incident.

Jaishankar Confronts US Secretary of State Over Sailor Deaths

The development comes amid high diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Washington. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took up the issue of the deaths of three Indian mariners directly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, lodging a strong protest against US Navy actions in the Gulf region.

"Spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this evening. I reiterated India's strong protest at the attacks by the US Navy in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners. Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified," Jaishankar posted on social media platform X.

Tensions Escalate Over MT Settebello Strike

The strategic waters of the Gulf of Oman have seen heightened hostilities. The commercial oil tanker MT Settebello recently came under fire from US forces, who accused the vessel of violating their naval blockade of Iranian ports.

Of the 24 Indian crew members on board the MT Settebello, 21 were successfully rescued. However, three Indian sailors lost their lives. The MEA confirmed that the deceased seafarers have been identified and efforts are underway to repatriate their mortal remains to India at the earliest.

In response to the tragedy, India summoned the US Charge d'Affaires in New Delhi, Jason Meeks, on Friday. This marked the second instance of the US mission being summoned over growing maritime security concerns in the region, following another attack on a commercial vessel carrying 20 Indian crew members.

Addressing the press, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India's stance, pointing out that the targeted vessels were foreign-flagged commercial ships and classifying the lethal US military strikes on them as unjustifiable.

With inputs from ANI