MEA dismisses reports of attack on vessel carrying Indian crew near Oman

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday dismissed reports that a merchant vessel carrying Indian crew members had come under attack off the coast of Oman, describing the claims as “false” and “baseless.”

The clarification came after reports emerged that the vessel Liaki Freedom had stopped responding, raising fears of another maritime incident in the Gulf. However, the MEA said it had spoken directly with the ship’s master, who confirmed that all crew members were safe and that no attack had taken place.

Issuing a fact-check, the ministry urged people to remain cautious about misinformation circulating on social media.

The reports surfaced amid heightened concern following a series of recent incidents involving vessels with Indian crew members in Gulf waters. Three ships have been affected in separate incidents over the past week, resulting in the deaths of three Indian mariners.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he had conveyed India’s strong protest to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over the attacks, describing the use of force against commercial shipping as unjustified.

The latest clarification eases immediate concerns over Liaki Freedom, but comes as tensions remain high in the Gulf following multiple maritime security incidents involving Indian seafarers.