Oman’s strategic Salalah port became the latest flashpoint in regional tensions after drone strikes targeted its oil storage facilities on Wednesday. According to local officials and British maritime security firm Ambrey, multiple drones were intercepted by defense systems, though one successfully breached security measures and struck fuel tanks at the port.
The Oman News Agency, citing security sources, confirmed the incident while noting that no casualties resulted from the attack. Ambrey’s assessment indicated no damage occurred to commercial vessels in the area despite the strike on infrastructure.
The incident prompted immediate operational changes, with shipping conglomerate Maersk announcing a complete suspension of activities at the port ‘until further notice’ following what it described as an ‘ongoing incident’ near the general cargo terminal. Unverified footage circulating online appeared to show significant fires at the port facility.
These developments occur against a backdrop of escalating regional hostilities. Iran’s military recently vowed to target American and Israeli economic interests in the region, including banking institutions, following overnight attacks that reportedly struck an Iranian bank in Tehran, resulting in unspecified casualties among staff.
Despite these threats, Iranian authorities have denied targeting oil infrastructure in neighboring Gulf states. Meanwhile, regional analysts have raised questions about the origins of recent attacks, with some suggesting potential false-flag operations intended to draw Gulf Cooperation Council members into broader regional conflicts.
Saudi journalist Adhwan al-Ahmari articulated growing concerns in regional media, stating: ‘Some believe this war is an American-Israeli trap to implicate the Gulf countries and draw them into a confrontation with Iran.’
The incident prompted high-level diplomatic exchanges, with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said expressing strong dissatisfaction to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian regarding attacks targeting Omani territory.