Drone Strikes Escalate in Gulf as Oman's Duqm Port Fuel Tank Hit
DUQM, Oman – A drone attack struck a fuel tank at Oman's Duqm commercial port on Tuesday, the Omani state news agency confirmed, marking the latest in a series of assaults on regional energy infrastructure that threatens to further destabilize global markets.
The incident, attributed by security sources to multiple unmanned aircraft, occurred against the backdrop of intensified U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran, now in its fourth day. In response, Iran and its allied groups have targeted facilities across neighboring states.
This attack amplifies an already critical situation. On Monday, Qatar announced a halt to its liquefied natural gas production—accounting for roughly one-fifth of global supply—while Saudi Arabia suspended operations at its largest domestic refinery. Major Israeli gas fields, including Leviathan, remain offline, and most output in Iraq's Kurdish region has been shut down following a wave of Iranian retaliatory strikes on ports, airports, and energy sites.
Oman, which had been acting as a key mediator in negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear program prior to the outbreak of hostilities, now finds itself directly in the crosshairs. Duqm was also targeted by two drones on Sunday, wounding one worker.
Authorities reported that the damage from Tuesday's strike was contained and no casualties were recorded. The port's operations were not significantly impacted.
The Gulf-wide drone campaign continued elsewhere. In the United Arab Emirates, a fire broke out at the Musaffah fuel tank terminal near Abu Dhabi after a drone attack on Monday, according to the government's media office. Operations at the facility, operated by state oil giant ADNOC, were unaffected. The site is a crucial node in a 1,600-kilometer pipeline network.
Analyst & Public Reaction:
"This is a deliberate test of Oman's neutrality and the resilience of critical chokepoints," said Dr. Lena Fawaz, a Gulf security analyst at the Manama Strategic Institute. "The attackers are sending a message that no regional actor is beyond reach, aiming to compound the economic pressure."
"Where is the international outcry?" asked Markus Thiel, a shipping logistics manager based in Dubai. "Every day it's a new facility hit. These are not just attacks on countries; they're attacks on the global economy, on every family's energy bill. The complacency is staggering."
"The immediate operational impact seems limited, but the strategic signal is severe," noted Rashid Al-Harthy, a former Omani diplomat. "It forces Oman, and others, to recalculate their security posture and the viability of their mediation role during active conflict."
"It's anarchy," stated Sarah Chen, a commodities trader in Singapore, reflecting market anxieties. "The supply chain buffer is evaporating. Each headline triggers volatility; the market is pricing in a prolonged disruption."