Indian Sailors Under Threat: Iran Attack Video Emerges as India Halts Hormuz Deployments

By Thetripurapost Desk, Teheran
Aug 21, 2026
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The Strait of Hormuz crisis has intensified concerns over the safety of Indian seafarers after fresh footage emerged showing a vessel carrying 21 Indian sailors coming under attack. India has already ordered shipping companies to stop deploying Indian seafarers on vessels that will transit the strategic waterway until further orders.

A video released by the Federation of Seafarers and Indian Seafarers Union (FSUI) has brought renewed attention to the April 22 incident. The footage reportedly shows crew members taking cover as the vessel came under attack while passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The ship was carrying 22 crew members, including 21 Indians.

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Video Shows Indian Crew Taking Shelter During Attack

The footage shows armed boats surrounding the commercial vessel. Damage inside the ship, including broken glass and scattered objects, can be seen after the attack.

At one stage, the video appears to show a rocket-propelled grenade being fired toward the vessel. Fearing for their lives, the crew members moved into safer areas inside the ship while the attack continued.

All 21 Indian sailors aboard the vessel survived the incident.

India Stops New Indian Sailor Deployments Through Strait of Hormuz

The latest incident comes against the backdrop of a broader maritime security crisis in the Gulf region.

On July 16, India's Directorate General of Shipping directed shipowners, ship managers and recruitment agencies not to deploy Indian seafarers on vessels undertaking voyages through the Strait of Hormuz until further orders. The authorities also called for increased vigilance across the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and adjoining waters.

The restriction applies specifically to fresh deployments of Indian seafarers. It does not directly cover Indian crew members recruited outside India by foreign shipping companies.

The move followed repeated attacks on commercial shipping in the region. Reports cited by officials said 16 Indians had either been killed or reported missing in the wider Middle East since the US-Iran war began on February 28.

Strait of Hormuz Remains a Major Maritime Flashpoint

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most strategically important shipping routes, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. Escalating military tensions in the region have created serious risks for merchant vessels and their crews.

Indian authorities have therefore urged shipping stakeholders to maintain heightened security measures while operating around the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and neighbouring waters.

Two Ships Hijacked Near Yemen and Somalia

The security situation has also deteriorated around the Gulf of Aden and waters near Somalia and Yemen, where commercial vessels remain vulnerable to armed attacks and piracy.

Two separate vessel seizures have raised concern over the safety of Indian crew members. A tanker reportedly hijacked near Yemen was later diverted toward Somalia, highlighting the continuing threat in the region.

The developments have added another layer of risk for Indian seafarers operating across the wider Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Middle East maritime corridor.

Pakistan Brings Home Sailors After Houthi Attack

Meanwhile, Pakistan has repatriated sailors affected by a separate attack involving the Tanzanian-flagged vessel Tihama.

The incident has further underlined the dangers faced by merchant seafarers operating through conflict-affected waterways in the Middle East.

Indian Sailors Face Growing Maritime Security Risks

The latest developments involving the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Aden and waters around Yemen and Somalia underline the growing security challenges for Indian merchant navy personnel.

With India already restricting fresh deployment of its seafarers on Hormuz-bound voyages, the safety of Indian sailors has become a major concern amid continuing instability across key international shipping routes.

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