Drones hit Oman's Sohar industrial area — 2 foreign nationals killed, others injured

Two drones struck Oman's Sohar province on Friday, killing two foreign nationals and injuring others, Oman's state news agency reported, quoting a security source. One of the drones hit the al-Awahi Industrial Area in Sohar; the second fell in an open area causing no injuries. Authorities were investigating the incident. Oman's energy ministry said there was no disruption to the continuity of oil supplies or petroleum derivatives in the country following the attack. The Sohar attack follows a March 12 drone strike on fuel tanks at Oman's southern Salalah port, after which Tehran denied involvement. Private maritime security firm Vanguard Tech reported a suspension of Salalah port operations following that earlier strike. The pattern of Iranian drone strikes hitting Oman is geopolitically sensitive: Oman has historically served as the most important neutral back-channel between Tehran and Washington. Oman's Sultan Haitham has publicly urged restraint from all parties. Iranian strikes on Omani soil — even if attributed to rogue actors or denied — threaten Oman's ability to continue its mediating role and risk pushing Muscat into a more hostile posture toward Tehran.