NEW DELHI: Three merchant ships with Indian crew members have come under attack from the US Navy off the Oman coast in the last four days, resulting in the death of three Indians, said govt, which lodged a strong protest with US and asserted attacks should stop. The number of Indian seafarers killed has increased to seven since the West Asia conflict broke out on Feb 28.This is also for the first time that India has acknowledged US Navy targeting the ships. While two Palau-flagged oil tankers — Marivex and Settebello — came under attack on June 8 and 10, Guinea-Bissau-flagged bitumen tanker ‘MT Jalveer’, with 20 Indians, was attacked on Thursday.Shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal tweeted, “It is deeply unfortunate to learn of the tragic incident aboard Palau-flagged MT Settebello. Sadly, three Indian seafarers initially reported missing are now confirmed dead after bodies have been located and identified. This is a profound loss to our maritime family.” He said govt stands firmly with the bereaved is fully committed to supporting the next of kin.ALSO READ | Projectile penetrated vessel’s hull, was lodged in fuel tank
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Later, Mukesh Mangal, additional secretary in the shipping ministry, said all the remaining 25 crew members of the Settebello — 21 Indians, two Pakistanis, one Russian and one Ukrainian — have been safely evacuated. He added that Seamen Welfare Fund Society has been asked to pay Rs 10 lakh to the family of each deceased.MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said two of the three vessels that came under attack were subject to sanctions administered by the US treasury’s office of foreign assets control, while the Settebello had been classified as non-compliant.OFAC acts against vessels involved in violating US sanctions on the sale of Iranian and Russian oil.Following the attack on the Settebello on Wednesday, MEA had summoned US charge d’affaires Jason Meeks and he was handed a demarche, or diplomatic note of protest.Responding to another question on the number of India seafarers in the Gulf region, Mangal said more than 18,000 Indian seafarers remained in the West Asia region, including 562 crew members aboard 13 Indian-flagged ships — 329 on vessels on the west of Strait of Hormuz and 233 on vessels in Gulf of Oman. Meanwhile, Congress on Thursday condemned “reckless military actions” by the US and demanded that govt to take necessary diplomatic measures to establish accountability.