Israel has reportedly hit Iran’s South Pars gas field, the world’s largest natural gas deposit, marking a major escalation in the ongoing conflict in the Gulf.
According to Reuters, the attack occurred on Wednesday, with Iranian authorities confirming that parts of the facility, including gas tanks and sections of a refinery, were struck, forcing the evacuation of workers as emergency crews battled a fire.
Iran signalled swift retaliation, warning neighbouring Gulf countries that their energy infrastructure could be targeted in response to the attack.
Reports indicate that the strike was carried out by Israel with the consent of the United States, although the Israeli military has yet to officially comment. Meanwhile, Qatar condemned the development, describing it as a dangerous escalation with implications for global energy stability.
Iranian authorities also escalated tensions by issuing warnings to regional players, signalling a potential widening of the conflict beyond its current scope.
The strike comes 10 days after Israeli forces targeted oil storage facilities in Tehran, marking the first reported attack on Iran’s oil infrastructure since the war between the two sides began.
The 3,700-square kilometre (sq.km) field, which is larger than the entire of Lagos state, plays a critical role in supplying energy domestically and across the region.
18 days into the war, which began on February 28, both sides have intensified efforts to inflict economic and strategic damage on each other.
The latest strike on South Pars suggests a potential shift in Israel’s strategy towards directly targeting Iran’s energy backbone. Until now, operations had largely focused on dismantling Iran’s leadership structure, with reports indicating that Esmaeil Khatib was killed in a targeted strike in Tehran earlier on Wednesday.