Doha, Qatar, March 19 (ANI): The ongoing conflict in West Asia intensified sharply as Iran launched ballistic missile strikes targeting Ras Laffan Industrial City, the heart of Qatar’s energy infrastructure, causing extensive damage, large fires, and heightening fears over global energy security.
According to Qatari authorities and QatarEnergy, the attacks—carried out late Wednesday and into early Thursday—struck multiple liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, including the critical Pearl Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) plant. The strikes mark the second assault on the industrial city within 12 hours.
Qatar’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that ballistic missiles launched from Iran directly hit Ras Laffan, resulting in “extensive damage.” Emergency response teams were immediately deployed to contain fires, with civil defence authorities reporting that at least two of three major blazes had been brought under control. No casualties have been reported so far.
Ras Laffan Industrial City, located roughly 80 kilometres north of Doha, is the largest liquefied natural gas processing hub in the world and a cornerstone of Qatar’s economy. The scale of the damage has raised serious concerns about disruptions to global energy supplies.
The missile strikes came in retaliation for earlier attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure, including the South Pars Gas Field—the world’s largest natural gas reserve—which Tehran alleges were carried out by the United States and Israel.
The escalation extended beyond Qatar. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting four ballistic missiles over Riyadh, along with two drones targeting energy facilities in its Eastern Province. No significant damage or casualties were reported there.
In a strong diplomatic response, Qatar condemned the Iranian strikes as a “blatant violation of sovereignty and international law,” warning of their serious implications for regional stability, maritime navigation, and environmental safety.
In a significant move, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared Iranian military and security attaches at its embassy “persona non grata,” ordering them to leave the country within 24 hours. The decision follows what Doha described as repeated Iranian aggression and violations of its sovereignty.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had earlier warned of “powerful action” against its adversaries and urged evacuations near energy facilities across the Gulf, including in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
As tensions continue to spiral, the attacks underscore the growing risk to critical energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf and the potential for wider regional conflict with global economic repercussions.
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