NEW DELHI: The Palau-flagged vessel MT Settebello, which became the center of a standoff between India and the United States, ignored nearly 60 verbal warnings before US forces opened fire last week, a US official said. The attack resulted in the deaths of three Indian nationals, prompting India to register a protest with the US.
US Official Details Sequence of Events
According to the official’s remarks, reported by the Associated Press from Washington, the vessel also failed to heed repeated displays of force by military aircraft, including flares and flyovers, intended to warn against violating the American blockade in the Gulf of Oman.
India Raises Concerns at Diplomatic Level
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar raised the issue with his US counterpart, Marco Rubio, describing the use of lethal force against civilian shipping as unacceptable. Rubio responded that the US would not tolerate any attempt to evade the blockade.
The latest remarks by a US official, which sequence the developments leading to the attack, appeared aimed at reassuring Indian authorities that US forces had not acted recklessly in launching strikes on the Settebello and two other foreign-flagged ships over the past week.
No Expression of Regret from US
However, the US has yet to express any regret for the deaths of the Indian mariners. India continues to seek accountability and assurances that such incidents will not recur.
