File image.
A series of Iranian strikes hit Saudi Arabia and Qatar late on March 18, causing damage at energy facilities in what appears to be retaliation to an earlier Israeli attack that targeted the Islamic Republic’s largest gas fields.
Large blasts were reported near the Saudi capital, Riyadh, right as the kingdom’s ministry of defense announced that four ballistic missiles heading in the direction of the city were intercepted.
Debris fell in various parts of the capital due to the interceptions, the ministry said in a brief statement on X, without reporting any damage or injuries. Nevertheless, videos posted online showed large fires just outside the city, with reports suggesting that an energy facility was hit.
Amid the attack on Riyadh, the ministry of defense reported the interceptions of two drones: one in the Al-Kharj province, and another that attempted “to approach one of the gas facilities” in the Eastern province.
Meanwhile in Qatar, the ministry of interior said that a fire in the Ras Laffan area – home to the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facility – following an “Iranian targeting”.
QatarEnergy later confirmed that the Ras Laffan Industrial City was the subject of missile attacks, and described the damage there as “extensive”.
“Emergency response teams were deployed immediately to contain the resulting fires, as extensive damage had been caused. All personnel have been accounted for and no casualties have been reported at this time,” the company said in a statement.
The Gulf country’s ministry of defense revealed that the missile that hit the industrial city was one of five fired from Iran, noting that all other four were intercepted.
“Civil Defense teams are currently responding and working to contain the fire,” the ministry said in a statement.
The strikes on Saudi Arabia and Qatar were likely an initial response by Iran to an Israeli attack that targeted the South Pars field in the city of Asaluyeh in the south of the Islamic Republic earlier in the day. The attack reportedly was carried out with the approval of the U.S.
Following the Israeli attack, Iran’s state television later published a threat, saying that the Islamic Republic will be attacking oil and gas infrastructure in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Iran’s President Massoud Pezeshkain said on X that the attack “will not achieve anything for the American Zionist enemy and their supporters,” warning that it will only “complicate the situation” and could lead to “uncontrollable consequences that will affect the entire world.”
The Iranian response could drag some Gulf countries to join the American-Israeli war. This is likely the main goal of the attack on the South Pars field.
The latest exchange of strikes pushed Brent crude futures, the benchmark for global prices, to $108.51 a barrel, up 4.92 percent. U.S. crude also rose to $98 a barrel, up 1.86 percent. More attacks on Iranian energy facilities will likely push the prices even higher.
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friday might be eid for muslims. jews and trump attacked on month of ramadan because muslims are weaker in that time. after that month let’s say salam aleikum jews and trump.
the irgc heretic persian towelhead goadfrackin terroristi in kharg, abu musa, greater tunb, and lesser tunb islands have been roasted extra crispy. hehehe.
russia and china will be the biggest winners from the mutual current attacks on gas fields in the persian gulf.
russia-china gas trade goes through gas pipelines.