A Nicaraguan-flagged oil tanker was struck in a drone attack near Oman’s Port of Sohar on Sunday, October 11, leaving two Indian crew members missing. Indian officials said search and rescue operations were continuing.

Sarbananda Sonowal, India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said the MT Petro Dolphin was attacked while anchored at the Port of Sohar. Of the 11 Indian crew members on board, nine were rescued and are safe, while the fate of the other two remains unknown.

According to an initial report by the specialist maritime platform Marine Tanks, the incident occurred at around 11.30am local time. The tanker was targeted while waiting to berth at the Port of Sohar.

The Indian Embassy in Muscat said it was closely monitoring the tanker’s situation and was in contact with Omani authorities and the ship’s management company to locate the two missing crew members. The Oman Coast Guard is continuing its search and rescue operation.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Monday, October 12, condemned attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz region. The ministry also said another tanker, the Marshall Islands-flagged MT Valthera, caught fire on Sunday after being hit by an unidentified projectile, but all 11 Indian crew members were safe.