The Indian embassy in Baghdad said that an Indian man was killed after two ships were attacked in Iraqi waters near Basra. The man was on board the US-owned crude oil tanker Safesea Vishnu, which was sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands when it was attacked on Wednesday. Another 15 Indian crew members were evacuated to safety. Track updates on the US-Iran war
“On March 11, 2026, the US-owned crude oil tanker Safesea Vishnu, sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands, was attacked near Basra, Iraq, unfortunately resulting in the death of an Indian crew member. The remaining 15 Indian crew members have since been evacuated to safety,” the embassy said in a post on X.
The embassy said it was in contact with the Iraqi authorities as well as the 15 rescued crew members. She added, “The embassy expresses its sincere condolences to the family members of the deceased crew member.” Follow updates on the conflict in the Middle East
It was not immediately clear whether the ships had been attacked by drones or boats loaded with explosives, Agence France-Presse reported, citing an employee at the port of Basra.
Read also: How an oil tanker bound for India went dark in the Strait of Hormuz to avoid the US-Iran war
Iraqi General Ports Company Farhan al-Fartusi reportedly said one crew member was killed and 38 were rescued while “the search for the missing continues.”
The Iraqi government’s media cell told the Iraqi National News Agency that “two tankers were sabotaged,” while the Iraqi Oil Ministry expressed “deep concern” about the attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf.
As the war between the US and Iran rages in the Middle East, ships near the Strait of Hormuz have come under attack as Iran takes control of the key energy corridor.
The Iraqi Governmental Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) confirmed the attack on the Safesea Vishnu ship, and the Maltese-flagged tanker Zefyros was attacked in its territorial waters. Following the strikes, Iraq suspended operations at its oil terminals, according to comments from the director of the General Company for Iraqi Ports, Bloomberg reported.
SOMO said, “This event negatively affects Iraq’s security and economy, and poses a threat to the safety of maritime navigation and oil activities in Iraqi territorial waters.”
