Israel Attacks Iranian Gas Field as Oil Surges Past $110

Israel launched a significant escalation in the Middle East conflict by striking Iran's massive South Pars natural gas field, the world's largest such facility shared between Iran and Qatar.

“She added that it also “risks prices staying high for longer””

Al Jazeera

The attack damaged Iran's Asaluyeh refinery and halted production at two refineries typically outputting about 100 million cubic meters of gas daily.

Al Jazeera

The United States was informed about Israel's plans to strike the South Pars gas field but did not take part in the operation itself, according to an anonymous source familiar with the matter.

Qatar, which shares the North Dome portion of this gas field, immediately condemned the Israeli attack as 'dangerous and irresponsible' that put global energy security at risk.

Iran responded swiftly and forcefully to the Israeli attack by unleashing missile strikes against multiple regional energy infrastructure targets.

The most significant retaliation involved Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City, the world's largest liquefied natural gas export terminal where roughly 20% of global LNG supply moves through.

Al Jazeera

A missile struck the facility, sparking a fire that caused 'extensive damage' before being extinguished, though all personnel were accounted for with no casualties reported.

Iran also targeted Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province with attempted drone attacks on gas facilities, while Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates came under fire as well.

In response, Qatar declared the military and security attaches at the Iranian Embassy, along with their staff, 'persona non grata' and ordered them to leave the country within 24 hours.

The attacks on energy infrastructure sent shockwaves through global energy markets, causing oil prices to surge past $110 per barrel and European natural gas prices to jump 6-8% in a single day.

“The ministry affirmed that Qatar reserves the right to take whatever measures are necessary to safeguard its sovereignty and security, in accordance with international law”

Al-Jazeera Net

Brent crude climbed as high as $110.90 per barrel while US crude hit $99.78, with analysts warning that Brent crude could potentially hit $200 per barrel if Tehran conducts 'broad energy infrastructure attacks.'

The price of Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil, was now up close to 50% since the start of the war, according to market analysis.

The situation was complicated by Iran's de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which up to 20% of global oil and gas supplies pass, with estimates suggesting that reduction in production in the region could reach up to 10% of global demand.

Energy market analysts noted that these infrastructure attacks were 'helping dial up the temperature once again and put renewed upward pressure on oil prices' as global markets reacted to the heightened threat of prolonged supply disruptions.

The escalation triggered significant diplomatic fallout across the region, with Qatar taking the unprecedented step of suspending all diplomatic mediation efforts between Iran and the West following the attacks on its energy infrastructure.

This marked a dramatic end to Qatar's long-standing role as one of Iran's most important diplomatic interlocutors in the Gulf, which had facilitated communication between Tehran and Washington and helped broker a prisoner exchange in 2023.

ANI News

The diplomatic rupture came as the conflict also claimed its first civilian casualties in the occupied West Bank, where at least three people were killed in Beit Awa when an Iranian missile hit the territory.

Meanwhile, the United States expressed growing frustration that no allies had stepped forward to send ships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with President Trump posting on social media: 'WE DON'T NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!'

British military officials warned that any reopening of the strait was 'a long way off' due to persistent asymmetric threats including mines, attack boats and drones.

The targeting of energy infrastructure represents a dangerous new phase in the Iran-US-Israel conflict, fundamentally altering the strategic calculus of the war.

“Associated Press writers Samy Magdy in Cairo, Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad, Julia Frankel in Jerusalem, Stefanie Dazio in Berlin, Darlene Superville and Aamer Mahdani in Washington, Jamey Keaten in Geneva, and Bassem Mroue and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report”

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz underscored the escalation by stating that 'no one in Iran has immunity and everyone is in the crosshairs,' with Prime Minister Netanyahu authorizing the military 'to target any senior Iranian official for whom an intelligence and operational opportunity arises, without the need for additional approval.'

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Iran's military warned it would take 'decisive action' in response to the strike on its energy infrastructure, declaring that targeting fuel, energy, and gas infrastructures of countries of origin was 'legitimate' and promising to 'retaliate strongly at the earliest opportunity.'

The strategic shift toward energy infrastructure attacks was designed by Iran to drive up oil prices and put pressure on the US and Israel to back down.

Analysts warned that this new phase could lead to 'lasting damage to its infrastructure' and potentially trigger a broader regional conflict as the conflict enters its most volatile and dangerous stage yet.