Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:47pm on 02 Mar 2026,Monday India Global
An Indian crew member was killed after an unmanned drone boat struck oil tanker MKD VYOM approximately 52 nautical miles northwest of Oman's Port Sultan Qaboos on March 1. The attack triggered a fire and explosion in the main engine room, forcing evacuation of all 21 crew members including 16 Indians, four Bangladeshis, and one Ukrainian by merchant vessel MV SAND. Authorities have not identified the perpetrators, though Iran remains suspected amid escalating Middle East tensions following Ayatollah Khamenei's assassination. This marks the second such maritime attack near the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, Palau-flagged tanker Skylight, carrying 15 Indians, was also struck near Oman's Musandam peninsula, injuring four. (PC: Reuters)
