Post by : Bianca
Haleem
Early Thursday, Qatar Energy confirmed that Iran launched missiles targeting Ras Laffan Industrial City, home to the world’s largest LNG facilities and the Pearl Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) plant. This follows the previous day’s strike on March 18, which also caused damage to the Pearl GTL facility.
Qatar Energy said in a statement on X that several LNG facilities were hit early Thursday, intensifying concerns over global energy security. Emergency teams were deployed immediately, and no casualties have been reported despite significant damage and fires.
The attack is seen as retaliation by Iran for Israeli airstrikes on its South Pars and Asaluyeh gas fields, which killed top Iranian officials including Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, security chief Ali Larijani, and Basij head Gholamreza Soleimani. South Pars is the world’s largest gas field, sharing reserves with Qatar’s North Field.
The conflict is increasingly targeting economic hubs, especially energy facilities, to weaken each side’s economy. Iran had earlier warned it could strike US military bases and Gulf energy infrastructure, including in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Former US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, urging Israel not to attack South Pars again and stating the US had no prior knowledge of Israel’s strike. He described Iran’s strike on Ras Laffan as “unjustified” and warned that any future Iranian attack on Qatar would trigger a strong US response.
Qatar’s foreign ministry condemned the attacks, calling them a violation of international law and a threat to global energy supply and regional stability.
Ras Laffan LNG is the world’s second-largest exporter of natural gas, and any escalation could disrupt global gas markets and energy supply chains.
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