Security
Oman’s Salalah port strike ignites Gulf tensions, forcing unity calls
Drone strike on Oman's Salalah Port caused massive damage, halting operations and thrusting the nation into escalating Middle East tensions.
![Containers at Oman’s Salalah port. Amid the Iranian regime's continued targeting of Gulf infrastructure, drones struck fuel tanks at Salalah port on March 11, 2026. [AFP]](/gc1/images/2026/03/28/55256-salalah_port-600_384.webp)
By Al-Fassel |
Drones struck fuel tanks at Oman's Salalah port on March 11, as the Iranian regime continues to target Gulf infrastructure in retaliation for US-Israeli attacks.
"Omani authorities reported that several drones were intercepted, while others struck fuel tanks at the port of Salalah," the Oman News Agency reported.
A major fire erupted from the attack, sending thick black smoke miles into the sky. No casualties were reported.
Emergency crews and armed forces battled the blaze. The attack suspended operations at the port's general cargo and liquid terminals.
Danish shipping giant Maersk announced in a statement that it was suspending bookings in the Gulf "until further notice."
The full financial and logistical impact on the port—a critical hub for global trade and energy supplies—is still under assessment.
Regional reactions to the strike
The Salalah strike is broadly seen as part of wider aggression that is undermining regional security and commerce.
The Iranian regime has used sophisticated drones to strike critical infrastructure in neighboring countries.
Many interpret this calculated attack as a direct message to Oman and its key allies, including the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The international response was swift and unified. The US and its Gulf allies denounced the strike as a threat to regional stability.
In an emergency meeting, the GCC declared the security of its member states indivisible and affirmed their collective right to self-defense.
Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi condemned the attack, saying the council stands united behind Oman in defending its security, stability and territorial integrity.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) described the attack as a "dangerous escalation," a condemnation echoed by Qatar, which called it a "blatant act of aggression."
Oman's long-standing neutrality and mediator role are strained. The recent security incident shows the Sultanate is no longer spared from escalating regional conflicts.
In a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, on March 11, Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said condemned the ongoing attacks targeting its territory.
The regime has denied responsibility, with a spokesperson calling the incident "highly suspicious," but the attack has severely tested the relationship between Muscat and Tehran.
A call for unity
This aggressive strike on a vital commercial port underscores a critical turning point for the Middle East.
Such actions have already menaced or impacted numerous regional states, posing an undeniable threat to stability and economic prosperity.
Salalah strike transcends an attack on a single nation; it represents a direct assault on the fundamental security and commerce that bind the wider region.
Analysts and officials assert that this pivotal moment demands immediate cooperation and solidarity from all nations to reassert stability. Unity must prevail now.
I hope that security and peace will prevail.
Some people seek the ruin of the land, while others strive to rebuild it, and spare themselves the horrors of war and destruction.
May Allah protect the Arab world, and Syria in particular.
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I like to live in peace, security and safety. May Allah protect our homeland!
I like this article.
The Gulf states must stop supporting America and Israel. If it hadn't been for Israel, the Arab states would have been just fine. However, the Jewish ambitions know no bounds.
We hope the war ends, things return to normal, peace prevails, and economic prices return to what they were. No one likes wars.
Every dispute, whether political or military, must be resolved at the negotiating table. So, be prepared for that.
I hope that wars will end and that the world will live in peace!
Screw the United States and Zionism! I'm Palestinian and proud, and if anyone doesn't like it, they can go jump off a cliff! Frankly speaking, I love Iran because they're striking the criminal Zionists and the arrogant Americans. Palestine will be liberated, Allah willing. I also love Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen because they're the only ones who stood with us. All thanks, appreciation, and respect to them. Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.
When war is imposed on a country, its citizens must defend themselves with all their might. However, dialogue is better and more effective, provided it is not dictated to them.
Please resolve the problems politically, not across borders.
Free Syria
Allah, grant us safety and security!
May Allah protect the Arab countries from this insane war!
May Allah protect the Arab countries from this insane war!
Honestly, people, this drone attack isn't all from Iran. It's all coming to the Gulf from America and Israel. They're accusing Iran. Think carefully: America and Israel have an interest in destroying the Middle East. Iran's goal was a bomb to strike America, not the East, because Iran's interests lie with the East, not the West. Wake up, people!
The overall idea is absolutely fantastic.
No to war, no to destruction, no to fighting innocent people! Enough destruction and ruin for ourselves! Dialogue and listening from everyone are essential. Stability is beautiful, and we must avoid instability and fear of one another.
I am for peace and the return of all usurped lands.
We don't want war in our beloved Syria, enough has happened already.
Matters must be resolved politically, not militarily. Enough wars and enough bloodshed from all sides. Let the world agree on matters of peace so that humanity can live with dignity and honour.
I support Iran right now because it is fighting the Jews, whom our leaders failed to fight and stand against.
I am against any attack targeting our country and our Arab nation.
May Allah grant you health and long life, and may Allah reward you! Long live my friend Abu Shifra! Long live the General Security! Long live President Ahmad al-Sharq, whose sin is unknown, from his head to President Bashar al-Assad. Poor Hafez, may Allah have mercy on him! He said, "What's wrong with him? May Allah curse every boy who has a sister," or "May Allah curse all girls."
It is in the interest of the entire world that the war stop as soon as possible; it is a harmful war with no benefit or purpose.
Allah, let the oppressors destroy each other, and deliver us safely from among them. Lord, protect Syria and the lands of the Muslims!
Against war
Dialogue between nations is paramount; I wish peace for all people.
May Allah grant you victory over our enemies!
O Allah, grant us relief and protect the Gulf states!
Yes, it's a very good difference that he is against war and supports resolving crises through dialogue.
O Allah, protect the Arabian Gulf. O Allah, protect the Sultanate of Oman. O Allah, protect the Gulf, its people and its rulers.
The recurring wars and problems in the region do not serve the interests of global powers. The ongoing arms race is designed to weaken and destabilize the region, allowing the Zionist entity to fulfill its role and the state to carry out its mission, leaving the Arabs weak and divided.
They seek strength, but true strength lies in political solutions, not war. War is deception, and those who fail to recognize this fall into its trap. I hope you understand my point, and I wish peace for the people of the region. I wish peace for you and all the people of the region.
We must be patient, take the necessary steps, and work towards calming things down.
I hope there will be understanding and that the matter will be in the interest of the peoples and neighboring countries.
I am against the world war
We hope for lasting stability in Arab countries, without wars, with a focus on strengthening the economy, protecting seas, ships, and companies, and promoting trade, with each country safeguarding its own interests.
I am against wars
Iran is a terrorist Persian state, and the Persians cannot be trusted. We ask Allah to exact vengeance upon them.
I'm against the war, and am for resolving crises through dialogue.
I am against war and believe crises can be resolved through dialogue.
Iran does not respect its neighbours.
I am definitely against wars, and for the appropriate solution through understanding and dialogue.
I like it
The Syrian community knows of the injustice, killing, prisons, detention centers, torture, and sectarianism that Syria has experienced. No other country has experienced what Syria has. Factories, shops, and homes have been fully destroyed. My textile factory in Ghouta was destroyed, and my warehouses were burned and looted. So far, I haven't been able to do anything. May Allah be with us!
Allah is the avenger of the oppressor.
Syria was destroyed due to certain political conflicts. Syria will be rebuilt, and all its sects will live in brotherhood and love, with no discrimination among its citizens.
At the end, peoples will triumph!
Not striking Syria using the missiles.
Missiles should not be launched
We warn Iran against attacking Syria.
It's a shame that something like this is happening in Syria.
We want security and stability for Syria and all countries. We do not want war; we do not want people displaced from their countries. Agreement and love between nations are essential for the prosperity and success of all countries. Thank you.