Muscat – Iran attacked Gulf states on Sunday and declared the Strait of Hormuz closed after the United States conducted its third round of strikes in a week, in a serious escalation as the ongoing conflict spirals.

Tehran on Sunday claimed attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar and Oman, calling these its response to renewed US bombings on cities along its southern coast.

Reacting to the escalation, Oman strongly condemned drone attacks targeting sites in Musandam, while authorities successfully rescued 23 crew members from a commercial vessel following a maritime incident off the governorate’s coast.

A security source confirmed that several locations in Musandam were targeted by drones on Sunday. In an official statement, the sultanate condemned the attack in the strongest terms, stressing that all necessary measures are being taken to address the developments and ensure the country’s security and the safety of its residents.

Separately, the Maritime Security Centre (MSC) said the competent authorities responded to a distress call from the Cyprus-flagged commercial vessel GFS Galaxy after an incident approximately 4.4 nautical miles off the coast of Musandam.

The MSC said 23 crew members were rescued and provided medical care. Specialised search teams continue efforts to locate one crew member who remains missing.

The Embassy of India in Muscat confirmed that ten Indian nationals were among those rescued by Omani authorities. It said search operations are continuing for one Indian crew member who is still missing.

It also expressed appreciation to the Omani authorities for their swift response and effective rescue operations.

India strongly condemned the attack on the commercial vessel, describing the continuing attacks on merchant shipping in the region as a matter of serious concern.