Nine crew members were rescued after a drone attack sparked a fire aboard the Nicaragua-flagged Petro Dolphin at Sohar Anchorage, as fresh maritime security concerns emerge around the Strait of Hormuz.

Two Indian sailors are missing after a suspected drone attack set an oil tanker ablaze off the coast of Oman, triggering a search-and-rescue operation amid rising concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the region.

The incident involved the Petro Dolphin, a Nicaragua-flagged tanker anchored at Sohar Anchorage, on Sunday, October 11, according to Iran International.

The vessel was carrying 11 Indian crew members when the attack occurred. Nine sailors were rescued safely, while the remaining two were reported missing as rescue teams continued efforts to locate them.

The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the two sailors were not immediately clear. Authorities have yet to establish their whereabouts, while the cause and full extent of the damage to the vessel remain subject to further investigation.

India has condemned the reported attacks on commercial vessels and said its embassy in Muscat was coordinating with Omani authorities to assist the affected crew members and support efforts to find the missing sailors.

The incident has renewed concerns over maritime security in waters around Oman and the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a major international shipping corridor through which significant volumes of the world's oil and other energy supplies pass.

Several commercial vessels have reportedly come under attack in the area in recent days, heightening fears among shipping operators and seafarers navigating the increasingly volatile maritime environment.

The latest incident also underscores the risks faced by crew members working aboard commercial vessels operating in waters affected by regional tensions. Beyond the immediate threat to human life, attacks on shipping can disrupt trade, increase insurance costs and threaten the uninterrupted movement of vital energy supplies.

However, the identity of those responsible for the reported drone attack on the Petro Dolphin has not been independently established in the reports cited.

Search-and-rescue efforts for the two missing Indian sailors were continuing, with further details about their condition and the circumstances of the attack awaited.