Who are the seafarers caught in the US-Israeli war on Iran?

What the report says

Commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz has become a major casualty of the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to Al Jazeera. The outlet reported that repeated attacks on vessels since the conflict began on February 28 have turned one of the world’s busiest maritime routes into a high-risk corridor for crews carrying oil, gas and other cargo. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on Sunday that three oil tankers on an unauthorized route were hit by explosions and fires.

Al Jazeera said the International Maritime Organization has recorded at least 25 seafarer deaths since the war began, with many of the victims being Indian nationals. The article also cited deaths and injuries involving crews from other countries, including Filipino sailors and Iranian maritime workers. Among the incidents described were US strikes on commercial vessels near Oman in June, an attack on the cargo vessel MSV Al Jusufi off Oman this week, and damage to tankers near the Strait of Hormuz in October.

The report said the violence has affected civilian merchant sailors on tankers and cargo ships, raised concern about whether crews can refuse dangerous assignments, and left some workers stranded near the strait. Industry groups and maritime charities have warned about mental strain, isolation and anxiety among crews operating in the region.

Al Jazeera also noted that maritime unions and shipping companies arranged limited protections earlier this year, including the right to refuse some danger zones, but said coverage is not universal. The article placed the issue in the context of international maritime law, which guarantees transit and innocent passage, while stressing that enforcement remains difficult amid continuing attacks.