New Delhi, May 14 -- India on Thursday denounced an attack that sank an Indian-owned vessel in Omani waters as "unacceptable" and said the targeting of commercial shipping and civilian crew should be avoided amid the West Asia conflict involving the United States and Iran.

A statement from external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal did not provide details of the attack on the Haji Ali, a cargo vessel from Gujarat, or specify who was behind the assault. UK-based maritime risk management group Vanguard said the vessel was affected by an explosion believed to have been caused by a drone or missile strike.

"The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman [on Wednesday] is unacceptable and we deplore the fact that comm...