India on Wednesday strongly condemned the targeting of commercial shipping after reports emerged about an attack on a Thai cargo vessel in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. New Delhi highlighted that escalating hostilities in West Asia were increasingly endangering civilian seafarers and global trade routes.In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said it had taken note of reports that the Thai-flagged vessel Mayuree Naree was attacked on March 11 while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The ship was reportedly bound for Kandla port in Gujarat.New Delhi also highlighted the human cost of the escalating attacks, noting that seafarers — including Indian nationals — have already been killed in earlier incidents linked to the conflict.“Precious lives, including 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 seems to be increasing,” the statement added.India reiterated its long-standing position that freedom of navigation and the safety of maritime commerce must be respected, particularly along critical global shipping corridors such as the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial portion of the world’s energy supplies passes.“Targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided,” the MEA said.The Strait of Hormuz, located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints, carrying a significant share of global oil and gas shipments. Any disruption in the waterway can have immediate repercussions for international energy markets and trade flows.The latest attack comes amid intensifying military confrontations in West Asia that have increasingly spilled into maritime zones, raising alarm among global shipping companies and governments over the safety of commercial vessels operating in the region.India, one of the world’s largest importers of crude oil, relies heavily on shipping routes through the Gulf for its energy supplies.Officials have been closely monitoring the security situation in the region, particularly given the large number of Indian seafarers employed on international merchant vessels. As per the government data, as many as 778 Indian seafarers are currently aboard 28 Indian-flagged vessels operating in the Persian Gulf region.