India news: Oil tanker carrying 27 Indians attacked with limpet mines in Strait of Hormuz

On Saturday, October 31, an oil tanker carrying 27 Indian seafarers was attacked with limpet mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Maritime security sources revealed that a small boat had attached two mines to the vessel's hull, resulting in a fire in the engine room. Indian Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed that all Indian crew members aboard the vessel were unharmed.

Two Indian seafarers on a separate tanker that experienced a different attack on October 29 were also reported to be safe. The attack on the Panama-flagged Louise 1 took place around 25 nautical miles northeast of Oman's Khasab on Thursday. The fire was swiftly extinguished, and there was no environmental impact, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations.

This incident marks the first successful use of limpet mines against a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Iran war commenced in February. The identity of those responsible for the attacks has not been disclosed. The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial chokepoint for oil and gas transportation, has witnessed an increase in attacks on ships to the highest level since the start of the Iran war, as reported by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.