Dubai to Salalah: Gulf Burns

Iran dramatically expanded its Gulf civilian infrastructure targeting on Day 12. In the early morning hours, two Iranian drones were intercepted near Dubai International Airport — the world's busiest by passenger traffic — injuring four foreign nationals. Flights were briefly suspended. Hours later, Iranian drones struck fuel storage tanks at Oman's Salalah port, setting three tanks ablaze and forcing port operations to close. The Salalah attack carries exceptional diplomatic weight: Oman has been the most consistently neutral actor in the conflict, maintaining open channels with both Iran and the US-Israel coalition. By attacking Omani civilian port infrastructure, Iran risks closing the last remaining diplomatic back-channel. UAE presidential adviser Gargash revealed the scale: over 250 ballistic missiles and 1,500 drones fired at UAE alone in 12 days. The Khatam al-Anbiya command simultaneously declared all tankers bound for the US, Israel, or their partners to be legitimate military targets, warning oil could reach $200/barrel.

Key facts

• •2 Iranian drones intercepted near Dubai International Airport — 4 injured
• •Iranian drones strike Salalah port, Oman — 3 fuel tanks on fire, operations suspended
• •UAE: 250+ ballistic missiles and 1,500 drones fired at UAE in 12 days
• •Iran declares all US/Israel-bound tankers legitimate military targets — $200 warning
• •Oman attack threatens last diplomatic back-channel between Iran and West