Middle East Energy War Escalates as Iran, Israel Trade Attacks
The strategic energy infrastructure of the Middle East has become a central battleground in a rapidly escalating conflict, with retaliatory strikes causing significant damage and threatening global supplies. The crisis was triggered by an Israeli attack on Iran's massive South Pars gas field on Wednesday. In response, Iran launched missile and drone strikes across the Gulf, inflicting what Qatar described as 'extensive damage' to its Ras Laffan Industrial City, the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export hub. QatarEnergy's CEO stated the attack wiped out approximately 17% of the country's LNG export capacity, representing an estimated $20 billion in lost annual revenue and raising alarm for energy-hungry markets in Asia and Europe. The violence quickly spread to other Gulf states, targeting the oil sector. Refineries in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia were hit by Iranian drones, according to reports. Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry stated it had intercepted 36 drones and three ballistic missiles since early Thursday, though one drone struck the Samref oil refinery, with damage being assessed. The coordinated attacks on energy assets sent Ice Brent crude prices up by as much as 8%, briefly touching $119 a barrel, while global gas prices soared due to the threat to Qatari exports, which constituted a fifth of the global LNG market last year. Leaders have issued stark warnings, raising the specter of uncontrolled escalation. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned of 'consequences beyond control,' while Iran's government cautioned it would show 'zero restraint' if its infrastructure was attacked again. In a significant development, former US President Donald Trump threatened to destroy the 'entirety' of Iran's South Pars gas field if Qatar was attacked again. Amid the turmoil, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Israel was assisting efforts to open the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, as oil prices subsequently retreated from their peak. The region remains on a knife's edge, with the attacks marking a dangerous new phase targeting the world's most vital energy corridors.
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Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Qatar says attacks will disrupt 17% of LNG export; 3 drones intercepted in Saudi Arabia | World News
Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Tehran warned that it its energy facilities were attacked, "subsequent attacks against your energy infrastructure and that of your allies will not stop until their complete destruction, and our response will be far more severe than" last night's attacks." | World News
Trump threatens to blow up 'entirety' of major Iran gas field if it attacks Qatar again
Following the Israeli attack, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned of "consequences beyond control, the scope of which would engulf the entire world". Verified images of the strike showed smoke rising from at least two impacts. Iran retaliated by striking Qatar's Ras Laffan site on Wednesday and early on Thursday. Ras Laffan is an industrial area that contains the world's biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG...
Oil prices fall after Brent briefly touches $119 as Netanyahu says Israel helping to open Strait of Hormuz
Oil and gas prices jump after Iranian strikes damage Qatar’s key LNG export facility. Ras Laffan hit with “extensive damage,” raising risks to global gas supply. Israel attacked Iran's South Pars gas field on Wednesday, prompting retaliatory missile attacks.
‘Doomsday scenario’: a visual guide to the oil and gas site attacks in the Middle East | US-Israel war on Iran | The Guardian
Qatar’s gas exports made up a fifth of the global LNG market last year, of which about 80% was shipped to energy-hungry developing economies in Asia. A long-term disruption to its exports would have serious consequences for gas buyers around the world by lifting market prices globally. After the South Pars attack...
Iran missile attack on Qatar causes 'extensive damage' to facility housing huge gas plant
Qatar said Wednesday that Iranian missiles caused "extensive damage" at Ras Laffan Industrial City, home to the largest liquefied natural gas, or LNG, export facility in the world. Qatar's Foreign Ministry denounced the attack as a "dangerous escalation, flagrant violation of state sovereignty, ...
The attack on Qatar's Ras Laffan industrial hub has sent gas prices soaring. Ras Laffan Industrial City is Qatar's main site for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is used globally for cooking, heating homes and generating electricity.
Iran warns it will show ‘zero restraint’ if infrastructure attacked again | US-Israel war on Iran News | Al Jazeera
The warning comes as Qatar continues ... Iranian attack. The strike wiped out about 17 percent of Qatar’s LNG export capacity, causing an estimated $20bn in lost annual revenue and threatening supplies to Europe and Asia, according to QatarEnergy’s CEO. Saad al-Kaabi told the Reuters news agency that ...
Iran fires missiles, drones across Gulf, region remains in war crosshairs | US-Israel war on Iran News | Al Jazeera
Qatar, UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia report new blasts, interceptions, with war edging to 3-week mark. ... Motorists drive past a plume of smoke rising from a reported Iranian strike in the industrial district of Doha amid the US-Israel war on Iran [File: Mahmud Hams /AFP] ... Iran has fired missiles and drones ...
Saudi Arabia intercepted 36 drones, 3 ballistic missiles since early Thursday: Defense Ministry
In separate statements, the ministry ... also intercepted two ballistic missiles launched toward the Eastern Province and a third missile targeting Yanbu port. It said a drone fell at the Samref oil refinery, with damage currently being assessed. Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Civil Defense issued three early warnings since Thursday morning, including alerts for threats in the Eastern Province, Yanbu governorate in the west, and Al-Kharj governorate in central Saudi Arabia...
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