Qatari civil defense teams extinguished sizeable fires at the Ras Laffan Industrial Area by 7:58 a.m. local time on Thursday, following overnight Iranian missile strikes that inflicted extensive damage on the world’s largest liquefied natural gas facility. The attack prompted a sharp reaction in global energy markets, with Brent crude oil prices climbing 5.1 percent to reach session highs of $113 per barrel.
In response to the escalation, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a strict ultimatum late Wednesday, threatening direct military action against shared Iranian-Qatari energy infrastructure. Trump declared the United States would target the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field if Tehran continues to attack Qatari energy sites.
Publishing the warning at 10:28 p.m., Trump stated the U.S. response would hit the field with an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen. He also formally distanced his administration from Israel’s initial military strike on the Iranian portion of the South Pars field. Trump stated the U.S. knew nothing about the Israeli operation and declared that no more attacks will be made by Israel on that specific reservoir.
Donald Trump ayaa sheegay in Israel aysan ku wargelin Mareykan duqeynta xurunta gaaska ee South Pars Gas Field ee Iran.
Wuxuu uga digay in haddii Qatar mar kale la weeraro, Mareykanku uu ka jawaabi doono. pic.twitter.com/5l2yCqZgaa
— Somalia 24🇸🇴S24 (@Somalia24) March 19, 2026
The hostilities, which commenced on February 28, have steadily engulfed regional energy networks as Iran strikes Gulf energy sites in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli operations. Tehran previously warned that energy facilities across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar are considered legitimate military targets due to their alleged complicity. The UAE recently shut down the Habshan gas complex and the Bab oil field following missile interceptions.
QatarEnergy confirmed the Iranian retaliatory strikes caused extensive damage to the Ras Laffan LNG hub. As regional defense operations continue, the Israel Defense Forces reported detecting a sixth ballistic missile salvo from Iran since midnight.
The conflict has paralyzed commercial maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The ongoing hostilities have brought shipments to a near standstill in a vital chokepoint that typically accommodates one-fifth of the world’s daily oil supply.