Two Indians Killed, Ten Injured in Drone Attack on Sohar Industrial Hub in Oman

PTI, March 13, 2026, New Delhi: Two Indian nationals were killed and ten others injured in a drone strike in Oman's Sohar city on Friday, marking the first Indian fatalities on land since the Iran-US conflict erupted on February 28.

Joint Secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Aseem Mahajan, confirmed the killing of the two Indians in Oman at an inter-ministerial media briefing on the West Asia crisis. He also said that 150,000 Indian nationals have returned to India from West Asia since the conflict began.

"I wish to share with you an incident that happened in Sohar city today. There was an attack and in this incident two Indian nationals have died," he said. "We express our deepest condolences to their families. Of the 11 injured (in the attack), ten are Indians. Out of them, five have been discharged after receiving treatment, and five others are receiving treatment in local hospitals," Mahajan added.

These latest casualties brought the total number of Indian fatalities in the West Asia conflict to five. While the strike in Oman marked the first deaths on land, three Indian sailors had previously been killed in attacks on merchant vessels since the conflict erupted on February 28.

In the last few days, India has ramped up its diplomatic efforts to ensure the safety and security of 10 million Indian nationals living in West Asia. India has also been making efforts to secure safe passage for over 20 Indian-flagged merchant vessels currently stationed on either side of the Strait of Hormuz.

In his remarks, Mahajan said that 15 Indian crew members of the US-owned oil tanker Safesea Vishnu were safely evacuated to a hotel in Basra city. The tanker came under attack near Basra in Iraq on Wednesday, and an Indian crew member was killed in the attack. Efforts were underway to transport the mortal remains of the deceased to India.

Mahajan said the Indian mission in Basra is also trying to ensure the safe repatriation of the 15 Indian crew members to India. Around 2,900 Indians returned from Qatar in Qatar Airways flights over the past few days, and 1,000 Indians returned from Bahrain.