The United States is ordering non-emergency personnel and eligible family members out of Oman despite a currently ongoing two-week ceasefire with Iran, signaling threats in the region remain elevated.
The State Department’s warning, which cites missile, drone and terrorism threats, remains in place and raises concerns the conflict is still spilling into Oman, a country long viewed as one of the Gulf’s most stable.
Americans across the region were urged to leave earlier in the conflict as airspace closures and flight disruptions spread rapidly across the Middle East.
Military.com reached out to the State Department, U.S. Embassy in Muscat, the Pentagon, Federal Aviation Administration and National Security Council for comment. A Defense Department spokesperson declined to provide additional context, directing questions back to the State Department.
Risk Spreads to Oman as Conflict Lingers
Long viewed as a neutral player in the Gulf, Oman—a country that has served as a quiet intermediary between Washington and Tehran—is now being pulled into the widening Iran conflict and threats continue to spill beyond primary conflict zones.
Fighting that began Feb. 28 has expanded across the region, raising concerns that previously stable areas are no longer insulated from escalation.
U.S. officials have warned of potential drone and missile threats in and around Oman, along with disruptions to commercial aviation and shipping routes in the Gulf of Oman.
The advisory also highlights terrorism risks, noting attacks could target tourist sites, transportation hubs and other public spaces with little warning.
Oman’s location along the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply, raises the stakes as instability could ripple across global energy markets and shipping lanes.
US Orders Exit from Oman as Threats Persist
A March 13 order directing non-emergency U.S. personnel and their families to leave Oman marked a sharp escalation, signaling concern inside Washington even as a ceasefire with Iran was being pursued.
Such ordered departures are rare and typically reflect a security environment officials believe could deteriorate quickly beyond routine travel risks.
In the days that followed, the U.S. Embassy in Muscat urged Americans to leave the country if possible and prepare to shelter in place, warning conditions could shift rapidly.
Officials have cited potential drone and missile threats tied to the broader conflict, along with risks to aviation and commercial activity in the region.
Despite those warnings, there has been no public confirmation of major attacks inside Oman, raising questions about whether the move reflects imminent danger or precautionary planning as the conflict spreads.
Oman Sits at Center of Global Oil Risk
Oman sits along the Strait of Hormuz, placing it at the edge of one of the world’s most critical energy lanes as tensions tied to the Iran conflict ripple across the region.
Roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply moves through the narrow waterway, making instability in or near Oman a potential trigger for global energy shocks and disruptions to commercial shipping.
Attacks on commercial vessels earlier in the conflict signaled a shift toward maritime escalation in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. officials have warned the conflict remains volatile despite a ceasefire, raising concerns spillover into the Gulf could threaten maritime traffic, aviation routes and critical infrastructure.
Even limited disruption could force shipping reroutes, drive up oil prices, and complicate military operations in a region where U.S. forces maintain a persistent presence.
As of April, the travel advisory remains at Level 3: "Reconsider Travel, and the ordered departure of U.S. personnel from Oman has not been lifted, signaling officials still see elevated risk despite a ceasefire with Iran."
U.S. officials have not indicated when conditions might improve, underscoring uncertainty about how long the threat environment could persist.
