Oman has shot down two drones, while a third crashed near Salalah port on Tuesday, state media reported, as tensions rise in the Gulf amid ongoing Iranian attacks on civilian and military targets in response to US and Israeli actions.

According to the Oman News Agency, a security source confirmed that “two drones were shot down over Dhofar Governorate, and a third crashed near the port of Salalah, with no casualties or damage reported.”

The agency emphasised that there were no injuries resulting from the incidents.

As tensions rise in West Asia amid the strike and counter-strike fiasco, the US Embassy in Muscat on Tuesday instructed its staff to take cover (shelter-in-place).

The alert also urged all Americans in the country to do the same until further notice.

"Due to ongoing activity, the US Embassy in Oman has instructed staff to shelter-in-place (i.e., take cover). We recommend all Americans in Oman do the same until further notice," the US Embassy in Muscat posted on X.

How is the situation in the Middle East?

The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum were photographed walking among shoppers at Dubai Mall on Monday, even as the country faced waves of aerial attacks in the ongoing Middle East conflict.

The public appearance followed official confirmation that the UAE’s air defence systems had intercepted a large number of ballistic missiles and drones launched by Iran toward its territory — a continuation of the regional hostilities triggered by the broader conflict involving the United States and Israel.

Despite heightened regional tensions and intermittent reports of intercepted aerial threats, Dubai Mall remained open and active, with residents, tourists and families seen going about their daily activities. In social media clips circulating online, Sheikh Mohamed was filmed warmly greeting a young girl before returning to his walk, while both leaders later dined at a restaurant inside the mall.

The UAE Ministry of Defence has said its integrated air defence systems have been actively intercepting missiles and drones fired by Iran since the start of recent retaliatory strikes. Reports indicate a significant number of projectiles were detected and neutralised before they could cause mass damage.