Daijiworld Media Network - Muscat

Muscat, Mar 11: Oil storage facilities at the Port of Salalah were struck by drones on Wednesday, triggering a large fire as authorities rushed emergency teams to contain the blaze.

According to reports and Omani state media, several drones targeted fuel storage tanks at the port. While air defence systems intercepted some of the unmanned aircraft, others managed to hit oil tanks, setting them on fire and sending thick plumes of smoke into the air.

Officials said no casualties have been reported so far, and no damage to merchant vessels in the harbour has been confirmed. Emergency services and security agencies are monitoring the situation and assessing the extent of the damage.

The attack is the latest escalation in a widening regional confrontation linked to ongoing military strikes involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Iran has warned that it would target energy infrastructure and logistics hubs across the Gulf in retaliation for attacks on its territory.

The Port of Salalah, located on Oman’s southern coast along the Arabian Sea, is one of the region’s key logistics and transshipment hubs and handles significant volumes of fuel and container traffic.

The latest strike adds to a series of drone and missile attacks across the Gulf region in recent days, raising concerns over the safety of energy infrastructure and global shipping routes.