Kathmandu. The conflict between Iran and Israel has taken a new and dangerous turn amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Iran said it fired missiles at the Ras Laffan industrial area in Qatar in retaliation for Israel and the United States attacking the South Perse gas field. The attack is said to have damaged critical energy infrastructure.

According to Qatar’s state-owned petroleum company, a fire broke out at a main gas processing plant after Wednesday’s missile attack. Emergency teams quickly brought the fire under control, but significant damage to infrastructure has been confirmed. Qatar has expelled two Iranian diplomats following the incident.

Qatar’s interior ministry said the fire was fully under control a few hours later and there were no casualties. The government has strongly condemned the attack, calling it a direct challenge to national security and regional stability. The foreign ministry has accused Iran of adopting a “policy of escalating tensions” and has made it clear that it reserves the right to retaliate if necessary.

Why is Ras Laffan important?
The Ras Laffan Industrial Zone is a major industrial city located about 80 kilometers north of Doha. Developed specifically for the natural gas industry in 1966, the area is considered the heart of Qatar’s energy economy.

The world’s largest LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) export center is located here.

About 20 percent of the world’s LNG supply is believed to be related to this area.

It operates from a huge gas field called the North Field.

This field is connected to the South Perse gas field, which makes the energy-political relationship between Iran and Qatar even more sensitive.

From here, gas is exported by ship to Europe, Asia and the world.

Earlier, Iranian sources reported that an airstrike had hit a petrochemical facility in the South Perse area. The area is considered one of the world’s largest natural gas reserves.

Massoud Pejeskian condemned the attack on energy infrastructure and warned that it could lead to “out of control consequences.” He has pointed out the potential for the conflict to have global repercussions.

Similarly, Emmanuel Macron has urged all parties to refrain from attacking energy and civilian infrastructure and said that the safety of the general public should be a priority.

The tensions in the region have also affected the global energy market. Crude oil prices have started to rise again in the international market as shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is affected.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has claimed that drones targeting its eastern region have been shot down and that the remains of a ballistic missile have been found near a refinery near the capital Riyadh.

In the Iran-Israel conflict that has been ongoing for the past three weeks, there are claims that senior officials from both sides have been killed. Israel has indicated that it will continue its targeted attacks, while Iran has repeated its threats of retaliation.