Iran launched retaliatory attacks on several energy installations across the Persian Gulf following an assault on its South Pars gas field. Tehran also warned of more destructive strikes if its energy infrastructure is targeted again. The escalation has raised fears of global energy supply disruptions, with oil prices rising by three percent on Thursday.

The attacks came after Iranian intelligence chief Esmail Khatib was killed in an Israeli strike, the latest in a series of assassinations of senior Iranian figures over the past three weeks. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards declared that any future attacks on its facilities would trigger continued strikes on the energy assets of its adversaries. Qatar reported a missile strike on its main gas field, prompting the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats, while Saudi Arabia intercepted multiple drones and missiles near its eastern energy hubs.

French President Emmanuel Macron urged restraint in calls with U.S. President Donald Trump and Qatar’s emir, emphasizing the need to protect civilian infrastructure. The conflict has spread across the Middle East, causing hundreds of deaths and mass displacement, as Israel continues operations in Lebanon and Iran-backed groups respond across the region.