Tehran intensifies assaults on Gulf power services after Israel hits Iranian gasoline area

Iran intensified its assaults on its Gulf Arab neighbours’ power infrastructure on Thursday (March 19, 2026), setting Qatari liquified pure gasoline services ablaze because it hit again following an Israeli assault on its primary pure gasoline area, a serious escalation within the conflict in West Asia that has despatched international gas costs hovering.

A ship burnt off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and one other was broken off of Qatar, underscoring the ever-present hazard dealing with vessels attributable to Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz.

Additionally learn: West Asia conflict updates on March 19, 2026

Qatar, a key supply of pure gasoline for world markets, stated firefighters had put out a blaze at a serious LNG facility after it had been hit by Iranian missile assaults. Manufacturing had already been halted there after earlier assaults but it surely stated the most recent wave of missiles prompted “sizeable fires and in depth additional injury.”

Harm to the power may delay Qatar in getting its provides to the market even after the Iran conflict ends.

Authorities in Abu Dhabi stated the nation had been compelled to close down operations at its Habshan gasoline facility and Bab area, calling Iranian in a single day assaults on the websites a “harmful escalation” of the conflict.

Missile alert sirens sounded in a number of different areas across the Gulf, and Israel warned of incoming Iranian hearth.

Gulf international locations denounce Iranian assaults

Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all denounced the Iranian assaults, with Saudi Arabia’s prime diplomat saying assaults on the dominion meant “what little belief there was earlier than has fully been shattered.”

In morning buying and selling, Brent crude oil, the worldwide customary, was above $110 a barrel, up greater than 50% since Israel and the US began the conflict on February 28 with strikes on Iran.

The wave of Iranian assaults got here after Israel hit South Pars, the world’s largest gasoline area, positioned offshore within the Persian Gulf and owned collectively by Iran and Qatar.

With some 80% of all energy generated in Iran coming from pure gasoline, in line with the Paris-based Worldwide Vitality Company, the assault instantly threatens the nation’s electrical energy provides. Pure gasoline can be used to provide family heating and cooking throughout the Islamic Republic.

Assault on Qatar’s gasoline facility and UAE’s ship

Qatar Vitality stated on X that it was a missile hit on its huge Ras Laffan liquefied pure gasoline facility that prompted the blaze early on Thursday (March 19, 2026).

A ship was additionally hit off the nation’s coast, in line with the British navy’s United Kingdom Maritime Commerce Operations (UKMTO) centre. It was not clear whether or not it was intentionally focused or was struck by falling particles as Qatar fired off missile interceptors at incoming Iranian barrages.

Saudi Arabia additionally reported downing Iranian drones concentrating on its pure gasoline services in a single day, and authorities in Abu Dhabi stated it had been compelled to close down its Habshan gasoline facility and Bab area after interceptions over the websites.

One other ship was set ablaze on early Thursday (March 19, 2026) off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. It was additionally unclear whether or not it was focused or hit with particles, the UKMTO stated.

It stated the vessel was simply off the coast of Khor Fakkan within the UAE, close to the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, via which a fifth of the world’s oil is often shipped.

Greater than 20 vessels have been attacked throughout the Iran conflict to this point, as Tehran has stored a good grip on transport visitors via the waterway, which leads from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.

Iran insists the waterway is open, simply to not the U.S. or its allies, and whereas some vessels have sailed via, it has solely been a trickle.