Iranian drones strike fuel tanks at Oman's Salalah port — 3 tanks on fire, operations suspended

Iranian drones struck fuel storage tanks at Oman's Salalah port on Day 12, with Oman News Agency reporting that while several drones were shot down, others hit fuel tanks in the port's southern section. At least three fuel tanks are on fire with thick smoke spreading across the port. Salalah's port operations were suspended following the attack. No casualties were reported. Private maritime security company Vanguard Tech confirmed the suspension of port operations. Earlier, a separate failed drone attack was reported targeting Oman's Duqm port. The attack on Salalah port is diplomatically extraordinary: Oman has been the most consistently neutral actor in the conflict, maintaining relations with both Iran and the US/Israel coalition, facilitating diplomatic back-channels, and providing humanitarian assistance — including rescuing Thai ship crew from the Hormuz strike earlier on Day 12. Iran attacking Omani civilian port infrastructure puts Oman's neutrality under severe strain and may close the last open diplomatic channel between Iran and the West. Salalah is Oman's second-largest city and a major commercial port handling container and fuel trade. The attack also expands Iran's strike campaign beyond the original Gulf Cooperation Council targets to include the Gulf of Oman coastline.