NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs on Tuesday condemned the attack on a Panama-flagged commercial vessel carrying Indian crew members off the Oman coast, calling for an end to attacks on commercial shipping.The ministry, in a statement, said that 12 of the 19 crew members were injured after the vessel was struck while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. It added that 11 of the 12 injured crew members were Indian nationals.“We condemn the attack earlier today on a Panama-flagged commercial vessel MT On Peace (IMO 9893204) off the coast of Oman, where it was struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Of the total crew of 19, 17 are Indian nationals.

It is learnt that 12 crew members have been injured, including 11 Indian nationals. With the assistance of Omani authorities, the injured crew have since been evacuated and are receiving medical treatment in Khasab, Oman. We thank the Omani authorities for their valuable support,” the ministry said.The ministry also reiterated that repeated instances of attacks on shipping in the Middle East region remain a cause of deep concern and called for an immediate cessation of such attacks in the “interests of peace and stability in the region”.“The targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers and civilian infrastructure in the region must end, and navigation and commerce through international waterways must be restored at the earliest,” the ministry added.