Drone attacks in Oman kill two as Iran-Israel war spills across Gulf

Two people were killed after drones crashed in the Sohar province of Oman on Friday, as Gulf nations remain affected by the ongoing war between the United States, Israel and Iran.

According to Oman News Agency, one drone struck the al-Awahi Industrial Area in Sohar, killing two foreign nationals and injuring several others. A second drone fell in an open area, with no casualties reported. Authorities said an investigation into the incident is underway.

The attack comes days after drones hit fuel tanks at the Salalah Port in southern Oman. Iran denied involvement in that strike. Omani officials said oil supplies and petroleum distribution in the country have not been disrupted, though private maritime security firm Vanguard Tech reported that operations at part of the port were temporarily suspended following the attack.

Elsewhere in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted multiple drones targeting different locations across the kingdom. The Saudi defence ministry said one “hostile drone” was shot down while approaching the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh, an area that hosts several foreign embassies.

Saudi authorities said three additional drones were intercepted around the same time, while eight others were destroyed in the central and eastern regions, including the al-Kharj governorate and areas west of the capital.

In the United Arab Emirates, air defence systems intercepted another attack over Dubai. Debris from the intercepted drone fell on the facade of a building in the city centre, according to the Dubai Media Office, though no injuries were reported.

The incidents highlight how the conflict between Israel, the United States and Iran is increasingly spilling into Gulf states hosting key energy infrastructure and international diplomatic missions.