India, April 18 -- Two Indian vessels, including a large crude oil tanker carrying about two million barrels of Iraqi oil, were on Saturday fired upon by the Iran Navy north of Oman, people aware of the matter said, shortly after reports emerged that Indian ships were forced to turn back from the Strait of Hormuz.

The vessels - Jag Arnav and Sanmar Herald - came under direct attack, raising fresh concerns over maritime security in the region. The development has led to a strong protest from India's foreign ministry, with New Delhi summoning the Iranian envoy over the matter.

The Indian Navy is trying to ascertain details of the incident as there is no Indian Navy ship in the Straits of Hormuz, they added. India has two destroyers, one f...