US diplomat summoned for second time in two days over attacks on vessels

The Ministry of External Affairs has summoned the US Chargé d'Affaires, Jason Meeks, for the second time in two days to register a strong protest over American military strikes on commercial vessels off the coast of Oman. The diplomatic démarche follows three separate attacks on merchant ships, which have left three Indian seafarers dead and affected over 65 others. In the latest incident, another vessel carrying 20 Indian crew members came under attack. MEA Additional Secretary summoned the envoy to hand over a protest note, condemning the use of lethal force against civilian vessels, while MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India's strong concerns regarding the safety of its seafarers.