Iran Shows Oman No Mercy
Iranian drones target Oman’s Duqm Port, injuring one worker in a major expansion of regional hostilities. As Iran retaliates for the death of Ayatollah Khamenei, the neutral Sultanate becomes the latest Gulf nation caught in the crossfire. Follow live updates on strikes across the UAE, Qatar, and Israel.
Oman's Duqm commercial port was targeted by two drones early Sunday, resulting in one expatriate worker being injured, according to the Oman News Agency (ONA) citing a security source.
The attack marks the first reported strike on Omani territory amid Iran's ongoing retaliatory operations following U.S.-Israeli airstrikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top officials.
Until now, Oman had been the only Gulf nation spared from Iran's barrage of missiles and drones targeting U.S.-hosted assets in the region.
The incident occurred at the Port of Duqm, a key commercial and logistics hub in southeastern Oman.
One drone struck a mobile workers' accommodation unit, causing the injury, while debris from the second drone fell near fuel tanks without inflicting additional casualties or material damage.
The injured worker, described as an expatriate, received immediate medical attention, with emergency response teams dispatched to the site.
Omani authorities have condemned the attack, stating that measures are underway to safeguard the nation and its residents.
Sources attribute the drones to Iran, with reports linking the strike to Tehran's broader retaliation against Gulf states perceived as hosting U.S. interests.
This comes amid escalating regional hostilities, including fresh explosions reported in Dubai and Doha, where shrapnel from intercepted drones injured two people in Dubai after falling on residential areas.
In the UAE, air defenses have intercepted 137 missiles and 209 drones since the attacks began, though one person was killed in Abu Dhabi from earlier strikes.
The Duqm strike follows Iran's vow to respond aggressively after the U.S.-Israeli operation, which targeted a leadership compound in Tehran, killing Khamenei, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, and others.
Iranian media reported Ahmad Vahidi as the new IRGC commander-in-chief and confirmed the death of Armed Forces Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi in subsequent strikes.
Retaliatory actions have widened, with reports of hits on airports and infrastructure in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and now Oman, leading to airspace closures and flight cancellations across the region.
Oman, known for its neutral stance in regional conflicts, has not issued a detailed statement beyond confirming the incident and injury.
The port, a strategic site with U.S. military access under a 2019 agreement, may have been targeted due to perceived ties to American forces, though no official claims of responsibility have been made by Iran.
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued warnings against further Iranian retaliation, emphasizing the buildup of American military assets in the Gulf.