Drones have struck fuel storage facilities at Oman’s Duqm port, damaging a tank in what appears to be a widening campaign of attacks linked to regional tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

Oman’s state news agency reported that several drones targeted fuel tanks at the commercial port, with at least one unmanned aircraft hitting a tank directly. Authorities said the resulting fire and structural damage were quickly contained and there were no human casualties in the latest incident.

The strike is the second drone attack on Duqm in three days, underscoring the vulnerability of critical energy and shipping infrastructure along the Arabian Sea and the wider Gulf. The port of Duqm, a rapidly developing industrial and logistics hub on Oman’s southeastern coast, has been promoted as a strategic alternative to congested Gulf waterways and the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier in the week, two drones hit the same port complex, injuring a worker. One drone struck accommodation used by staff, while debris from another fell near fuel tanks, according to Omani officials. Those attacks were described as the first to hit the sultanate since the current phase of the regional conflict erupted.

Oman has long positioned itself as a neutral mediator in disputes between Iran and Western powers, hosting back-channel talks and urging de-escalation. Muscat has renewed calls for a ceasefire and diplomatic engagement as the conflict has spilled into maritime routes and energy infrastructure.

In a separate incident off the coast near the capital Muscat, an attack on an oil tanker triggered an explosion and fire in the vessel’s main engine room, killing one crew member, an Indian national. Maritime security analysts say the pattern of incidents points to an effort to pressure Gulf states and disrupt commercial shipping without triggering a full-scale confrontation.

Regional navies and international partners are now expected to reassess security at key ports and sea lanes, including Duqm, which hosts foreign military facilities and serves as a critical node for oil products, petrochemicals and general cargo. While Oman has pledged to reinforce protective measures, officials have also warned that continued attacks risk destabilising one of the Gulf’s few remaining diplomatic bridges.