India has strongly condemned the attack on the commercial vessel GFS Galaxy off the coast of Oman, describing the continuing attacks on commercial shipping in the Middle East as deeply worrisome.According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), 11 Indian nationals were on board the vessel at the time of the incident.Ten of them have been rescued safely, while one Indian crew member remains missing and is the subject of an ongoing search and rescue operation.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the Indian Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring developments and is working in coordination with the Omani authorities.He also expressed India's appreciation for the assistance being provided by Oman during the rescue efforts.

The MEA reiterated India's call for an immediate de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, stressing that attacks on commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure must stop.

The statement further emphasised that free and unimpeded navigation through international waterways should be restored in accordance with international law.

The incident took place amid heightened regional tensions, with the United States stating that it had launched a third round of strikes against Iran after accusing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of attacking the Cyprus-flagged container ship while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the US Central Command, the attack caused significant damage to the vessel's engine room, triggered an onboard fire and left one civilian crew member missing.The developments underline growing concerns over maritime security in one of the world's most strategically important shipping routes.