Two Seafarers Missing in Drone Attack on Product Tanker off Oman

Two seafarers are missing after a drone attack on a tanker off the coast of Sohar, Oman, the latest suspected Iranian strike conducted far from the main conflict zone around the Strait of Hormuz. The location is particularly notable because it is off the coast of a neutral country: Iran recently negotiated a maritime power-sharing agreement for the strait with the Omani goverment.

UKMTO confirmed the attack on Sunday. The Indian government later identified the vessel involved as the Petro Dolphin, a small product tanker. Nine survivors have been rescued and the SAR operation continues for the two missing sailors, Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said in a statement on Sunday.

Petro Dolphin is a 4,000 dwt coastal product tanker built in 2004. It is UAE-owned and operated, and has no port state control inspection history, indicating a domestic operating pattern.

The vessel's Equasis record suggests that it is falsely flagged in Nicaragua. Its AIS signal has not been received by commercial services since May 2026.