India says 16 nationals killed or missing since Iran war began

New Delhi confirms casualties

Indian government sources confirmed Tuesday that 16 nationals have been killed or gone missing across the Middle East since the United States and Israel launched military action against Iran in late February, with the latest fatality occurring during an attack on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The 13 confirmed deaths include one citizen who died Tuesday when two United Arab Emirates tankers were struck by Iranian forces while transiting the southern shipping lane in Omani territorial waters, the sources said, adding that three other Indians remain missing since hostilities began on February 28.

New Delhi summoned Iran's deputy envoy to register a formal protest following the latest killing, the sources noted.

Conflict background

The war began when Washington and Tel Aviv initiated nearly 900 coordinated air strikes across Iran targeting government buildings, military installations, missile infrastructure and air defenses, killing more than 3,300 Iranians and displacing tens of thousands while leaving at least 12 US personnel dead and dozens wounded.

Broader Asian toll

The violence has claimed lives across the Asian continent beyond India, with at least 18 other nationals from the region confirmed dead or unaccounted for since the war began, including four Bangladeshis, four Pakistanis and one person each from China, Nepal and the Philippines. Three Indonesians and three Thais remain missing in Middle Eastern waters, according to tallies compiled by Anadolu.