A series of drone strikes targeted critical energy infrastructure at Oman’s strategic Port of Salalah, according to multiple reports on Sunday. The attack, which struck oil storage tanks, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions gripping the Middle East and directly implicates the traditionally neutral Sultanate of Oman.
Reports from Al Jazeera and Oman TV first broke the news of the strikes on the vital port facility. The British maritime security firm Ambrey later confirmed the incident, stating that while the attacks successfully hit oil storage infrastructure, there were no reports of damage to any merchant vessels in the vicinity. The port remains a critical hub for trade and energy exports in the region.
The incident is being viewed as part of a broader pattern of retaliatory strikes against Gulf energy sites. Sources indicate the attack is linked to ongoing military actions by the US and Israel, with Iran employing drone warfare as a means of reprisal.
In the immediate aftermath of the strike, Oman's leader, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, initiated direct communication with Tehran. During a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, the Sultan voiced his firm disapproval and condemnation of the attacks on Omani territory. The Sultan used the conversation to reiterate Oman's long-standing neutral stance in the regional conflict. However, he made it clear that the nation would not tolerate such violations, affirming that Oman will take all necessary measures to safeguard its security and stability.
The attack comes at a particularly delicate moment in Omani-Iranian relations. Just one day prior, on March 9, Sultan Haitham had sent a formal message of congratulations to Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on the occasion of his appointment as Iran's new supreme leader. According to a report by The Times of Israel, citing the official Oman News Agency, the Sultan's message conveyed best wishes to the new leader. This recent history of diplomacy, including Oman's past efforts to mediate between Washington and Tehran, now appears severely strained under the pressure of the escalating, 11-day-old war.
Adding to the growing maritime insecurity, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) separately reported that three commercial vessels were struck by "unidentified projectiles" near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.