Oman evacuates 23 crew members of a ship hit by Iranian-US fire, 1 ABK still missing

Illustration. RGM-84 Harpoon, a US subsonic anti-ship cruise missile launched from a ship. (Wikimedia Commmons-US Navy)

JAKARTA - The Oman authorities have evacuated 23 crew members of a container ship after their ship was hit by the latest shootout between Iran and the United States (US).

The Cyprus-flagged GFS Galaxy reported being hit by an Iran-US attack at 4.4 nautical miles off the coast of Musandam Governorate, Oman. Meanwhile, one crew member is reported missing.

"23 crew members have been rescued and given the necessary medical care. Search operations continue for one crew member who is still missing," the Oman Maritime Safety Center said in a statement, Sunday, July 12, quoted by AFP.

The US Central Command blamed Iran for attacking the ship.

Previously, the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that of the 11 Indian nationals on board, 10 had been rescued, adding that one person was missing.

The UK maritime agency, UKMTO, said the crew had abandoned the ship and were in a lifeboat, about 17 kilometers (10 miles) east of Oman.

The attack came as Tehran announced it was closing the Strait of Hormuz and launched missiles and drones at its neighbors in the Gulf in response to the new US attack.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf region as a result of the war triggered by the US-Israeli massive attack on Iran "are very worrying".

"The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end," the Indian Foreign Ministry statement said.

"Free and unhindered navigation... through international waterways in the region, in accordance with international law, must be restored as soon as possible," he continued.

This firefight threatens the course of the interim agreement between Iran and the US, which aims to end the war in the Middle East.