Oil Tanker Attacked Near Oman Coast Following Drone Strikes on Port

An oil tanker flying under Palau's flag was struck near Oman's coast on Sunday, leaving four crew members injured. The attack happened after drone strikes targeted Oman's Duqm commercial port, marking the first time Omani territory has been hit in escalating regional tensions.

A commercial oil vessel sustained damage near Oman’s coastline on Sunday, leaving four crew members wounded, according to the nation’s maritime security officials. The incident followed separate drone attacks on Oman’s Duqm commercial port facility.

These attacks represent the initial strikes targeting Omani territory or nearby waters amid escalating regional tensions following retaliatory actions by Tehran against Gulf nations. The broader conflict stems from coordinated U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran, which have sparked a new phase of warfare in the region.

The vessel, named Skylight and registered under Palau’s flag, had its entire 20-member crew evacuated following the assault, which took place approximately 5 nautical miles north of Khasab Port on the Musandam peninsula, according to Oman’s Maritime Security Centre’s social media announcement. Officials did not identify what weapon struck the tanker.

Four crew members sustained injuries of different degrees of severity, maritime authorities reported. The ship’s crew consisted of 15 Indian nationals and five Iranian citizens.

The Musandam peninsula, where Oman is located, jointly controls the Strait of Hormuz with Iran. This narrow waterway serves as a crucial shipping lane for approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil supply.

Earlier the same day, Oman’s official news service confirmed that two drones struck the Duqm commercial port, wounding one foreign worker.

Wreckage from an additional drone landed close to fuel storage tanks at the Duqm facility, though this incident resulted in no injuries or property damage, according to the news agency.