Drones hit Oman's Duqm port fuel tank as US-Iran war widens

2026-03-03 - 08:42

Oman confirmed Tuesday that multiple drones struck its strategic Duqm Commercial Port on the country's eastern seaboard, damaging a fuel storage tank, state news agency ONA reported. Citing a security source, ONA stated that fuel storage tanks were targeted by several unmanned aircraft, with one successfully hitting its mark. Authorities quickly contained the damage and confirmed no casualties resulted from the attack. Official Response The Omani government condemned the strike without attributing responsibility, stating it is taking all necessary measures to address the incident. The port, located on Oman's Arabian Sea coast, has significant strategic importance due to its location near the Strait of Hormuz and its role in regional trade and logistics. The attack represents the first major strike on Omani infrastructure in the current conflict. Regional Conflict Context The drone assault comes amid rapidly escalating regional hostilities following Saturday's joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which killed several top Iranian leaders including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has retaliated with waves of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Nine Arab nations have reported damage from Iranian retaliatory attacks over the past three days, with Bahrain and Qatar announcing they had intercepted over 170 Iranian projectiles. The strike on neutral Oman, which has historically mediated regional disputes, signals the conflict's expanding geographic reach.