The conflict involving Israel, Iran and several Gulf countries widened sharply this week, with attacks on energy infrastructure, missile exchanges across borders and growing international concern over the risk to global supplies.
In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump said Israel had “violently lashed out” at Iran’s South Pars gas field, though he described the damage as limited. He added that Washington had no prior knowledge of the strike and emphasised that Qatar was not involved, suggesting Iran’s response may have come without full clarity on the situation. Trump said Israel was unlikely to strike the facility again unless Iran targeted Qatar, while warning that any renewed attack on Qatar’s LNG infrastructure could draw a strong US response, even as he signalled reluctance to escalate the conflict further.
The strike on South Pars marked a shift in the conflict towards energy targets. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks across the region, including a strike on Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, a key hub in the global gas market. Qatari authorities said multiple fires broke out following the attack, two of which were brought under control by civil defence teams, with cooling operations continuing. No casualties were reported.
The fallout has extended beyond Qatar. Missiles and drones were launched towards Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, underlining the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in the Gulf. Saudi officials said air defences intercepted incoming projectiles, though falling debris injured four people in Riyadh. In the UAE, operations at a major gas facility were suspended after debris from intercepted threats landed nearby.
Bahrain said its air defence systems had intercepted more than 130 missiles and 230 drones since the conflict began, while Kuwait reported thwarting a planned attack on vital infrastructure. In Iraq, the Popular Mobilisation Forces said one fighter was killed and others injured in a strike in Salah al-Din, with no immediate response from the United States.
The escalation has also intensified along Israel’s northern front. Israeli airstrikes hit residential areas in Beirut and expanded into southern Lebanon, including Sidon, where evacuation warnings were issued amid continued bombardment. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for missile attacks on Israeli positions in the region. Meanwhile, Iranian missile fire struck areas near Tel Aviv, including Ramat Gan and Holon, causing casualties and damage.
A separate strike was reported near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear facility, though officials said the reactor itself was not affected.
The Gulf Cooperation Council, through Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, condemned the attack on Qatar’s gas hub, calling it a violation of international law and a threat to global energy security. Qatar has since expelled Iranian military and security attachés, ordering them to leave within 24 hours.
European leaders have urged restraint. Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate halt to attacks on civilian infrastructure, particularly energy and water facilities. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi criticised Washington’s role, describing the conflict as a miscalculation and calling for de-escalation.
In Tehran, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the situation had entered a “new level of confrontation,” signalling the possibility of a broader response if Iranian energy assets continue to be targeted.
The humanitarian toll continues to rise. In Lebanon alone, at least 968 people have been killed and more than one million displaced as fighting intensifies.
The United States has deepened its involvement, carrying out thousands of strikes on Iranian military assets and weighing further troop deployments. The Pentagon is seeking more than $200 billion to sustain operations, highlighting the scale of the conflict. The proposal has drawn criticism at home, with Senator Chris Van Hollen describing it as a “war of choice” and urging lawmakers to block the funding.
