MEA condemns attack on India-bound Thai ship, says innocent lives lost in conflict 'unacceptable'

India has deplored the attack on the Thai-flagged cargo ship, Mayuree Naree, in the Strait of Hormuz, while confirming the ship was bound for Kandla port, Gujarat. It condemned the commercial ship being made a target amid the ongoing conflict.The ministry of external affairs, in a statement, said that targeting the Thai cargo ship and endangering the lives of innocent civilians should be avoided. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared the stance on X with the caption, "Statement regarding ship bound for Kandla, India." It said, "We have seen reports about the attack on a Thai ship, Mayuree Naree, in the Straits of Hormuz on 11 March. The ship was bound for Kandla in India. India deplores the fact that commercial shipping is being made a target of military attacks in the ongoing conflict in West Asia."It also denounced the innocent lives lost in the recent attacks, which included two Indians, while one went missing, and criticised the increasing intensity of the attacks."Precious lives, including those of Indian citizens, have already been lost in multiple such attacks in the earlier phase of this conflict, and the intensity and lethality of the attacks only seem to be increasing," it said.It further urged the exclusion of commercial ships from the attacks."India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided," the statement read.A Thailand-flagged commercial ship was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, which was headed to India. Iran's Revolutionary Guards later claimed responsibility for the attack.The Thai transport ministry, in a statement, said that three of the 23 crew members on board were missing.The attack occurred near Omani waters. The crew, who abandoned the vessel in a lifeboat following the strike, were later rescued by the Omani Navy. Admiral Thadawut Thatpitakkul of the Royal Thai Navy said that after receiving information about the incident, Thai naval personnel stationed in Bahrain coordinated with the Omani Navy for the rescue operation.