Seven Indian nationals have died, and one remains missing as the Middle East war continues to intensify.
Embassy Confirms Casualties
Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Aseem Mahajan, confirmed that seven Indians have lost their lives and one remains missing. He said, “We continue to facilitate the travel of Indian nationals. Yesterday, an Indian national lost his life and another sustained minor injuries in an attack in Abu Dhabi.”
The Indian Embassy in the UAE expressed grief over the death of the Indian national. Officials said they are coordinating with UAE authorities to provide support and assistance to the affected families. The Abu Dhabi Media Office reported that the incident occurred after air defence systems intercepted a ballistic missile, causing debris to fall and resulting in casualties.
Government Response
At an inter-ministerial briefing, the government assured that India maintains adequate crude oil inventories despite disruptions. Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refinery), said refineries are operating at full capacity and domestic LPG production has increased by 20 per cent. She acknowledged that crude, LPG, and LNG supplies have been affected and international prices have risen, but emphasised that India has secured supplies for the next two months.
War Escalation
The war escalated after the US and Israel launched joint airstrikes on Iran on February 28 under “Operation Epic Fury” and “Operation Roaring Lion.” Iran retaliated with “Operation True Promise IV,” targeting US military bases across the Middle East, including in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
