After the threat: Iran launched an attack on gas facilities in Qatar and Saudi Arabia

Iran is escalating the regional campaign and targeting strategic goals in the heart of the Gulf’s energy industry: The authorities in Qatar and Saudi Arabia reported this evening (Wednesday) on Iranian attacks on central gas facilities – with a direct hit on one of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities. Following the attack, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs notified Iran’s military attaché that he must leave Doha within 24 hours.

Qatar announced that a large fire had broken out in the industrial city of Ras Lapan, after what they said was an “Iranian attack”. According to the authorities, emergency teams were dispatched to the scene and are working to control the fire. The event took place a few hours after reports that the country began to evacuate the facility – one of the most important in the world in the field of LNG exports following threats of retaliation from Iran.

Later, the “Qatar Energy” company confirmed that the facility was indeed directly hit. In an official announcement, it was stated that “the industrial city of Ras Lapan was hit by missile attacks this evening”, and that the emergency teams are working to put out the fires that were caused. It was also noted that significant damage was caused to the facility – but as of now no fatalities have been reported.

At the same time, Saudi Arabia also entered the firing range. The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced that it had intercepted an Iranian drone that was trying to attack a gas field in the east of the kingdom. The announcement stated that no damage was caused by the attempt.

A short time later, the Saudis reported another attack – this time towards the capital, Riyadh. According to the Ministry of Defense, four missiles launched at the city were successfully intercepted, but fragments of the interception fell in several areas and caused echoes of explosions that were heard throughout the capital. In this case too, no casualties or damage were reported.