At least six people were killed when a Qatari military helicopter crashed in the Gulf state’s territorial waters following a technical malfunction, the government confirmed on Sunday. Seven people were on board, and search operations are continuing for one missing crew member. Qatar’s defence ministry said the helicopter experienced a malfunction during a routine duty, while the Turkish Defence Ministry confirmed that one Turkish soldier and two personnel from Turkish defence firm Aselsan were among the dead. Authorities have begun inspections to determine the exact cause of the crash.

The Qatari defence ministry identified the deceased as three members of the Qatar Armed Forces, one officer from the Qatar-Turkiye Joint Forces, and two Turkish civilian collaborators. Officials extended condolences to the victims’ families and emphasized that there was no indication of hostile action behind the incident.

The crash occurred as Qatar faces heightened regional tensions following Iranian attacks on its Ras Laffan Industrial City, which caused significant damage to its liquefied natural gas facilities and reduced export capacity by 17 percent, resulting in an estimated $20 billion annual revenue loss, according to QatarEnergy’s CEO Saad al-Kaabi.

QatarEnergy CEO Saad Al-Kaabi said that about 17 percent of Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacity was damaged in a recent Iranian attack. He told Reuters that the affected facilities have significantly reduced the company’s export capacity, and full recovery could take three to five years. Al-Kaabi expressed surprise that such an attack occurred during Ramadan, calling it unexpected from a fellow Muslim nation.

He added that due to the damage to two LNG trains, QatarEnergy might have to declare force majeure on long-term gas supply contracts with Italy, Belgium, South Korea, and China, potentially causing prolonged supply disruptions. The damaged facilities had cost around 26 billion dollars to build.

The report noted that the incident could further increase volatility in the global energy market as Qatar is one of the world’s major LNG exporters.

Shell reported that its natural gas facility in Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City was damaged following an Iranian attack. According to a Reuters report cited by the company, a fire broke out at the site after the strike but was quickly extinguished. Shell confirmed that no casualties occurred and that the facility is now in a safe condition.

The company stated that when fully operational, the Ras Laffan center can process 1.6 billion cubic feet of gas per day, producing up to 140,000 barrels of gas-to-liquid fuel daily. The incident occurred amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran and neighboring states.

Global energy markets have reacted to the broader conflict, with oil prices surpassing 115 dollars per barrel and gas prices in the United Kingdom rising by 140 percent, reflecting the war’s economic impact.

A missile attack by Iran on Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City has caused extensive damage to gas facilities, raising concerns of major power outages and industrial disruptions in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India. These countries rely heavily on liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Qatar, which processes and exports nearly all of its natural gas through Ras Laffan.

According to data cited by CNN, energy analytics firm Kpler reported that Pakistan and Bangladesh obtain 99 percent and 70 percent of their LNG imports from Qatar, respectively. Market research group S&P Global noted that India sources over 40 percent of its LNG demand from the same country. Qatar Energy, the state-owned operator of Ras Laffan, had already suspended LNG and related product output earlier this month.

Following the recent missile strike and resulting damage, the company may face a prolonged delay in restoring normal production, potentially affecting energy supply chains across South Asia.

Qatar has declared the military and security-affiliated officials and staff of Iran’s embassy in Doha as persona non grata. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that those affected must leave Qatar within 24 hours. The decision follows repeated attacks by Iran on Qatari territory, according to the ministry’s statement issued on Wednesday evening.

The ministry said a formal memorandum was handed to the Iranian embassy, confirming that Qatar considers the Iranian military and security-linked personnel and their staff as unwelcome. The announcement came during a meeting between Ibrahim Yousuf Fakhro, Director of the Protocol Department at Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Iranian Ambassador Ali Saleh Abadi.

Qatar’s foreign ministry emphasized that if Iran’s hostile behavior continues, Doha will take additional measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and national interests.

French President Emmanuel Macron held phone conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani following an Iranian missile attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial city. The area is a key center for the country’s natural gas production.

In a post on social media platform X, Macron said that attacks targeting civilian infrastructure, particularly energy and water supply systems, must stop immediately. He emphasized the importance of protecting civilians, ensuring their basic needs, and maintaining the stability of global energy supplies by avoiding further military escalation.

The discussions and Macron’s statement highlight growing international concern over the security of critical energy facilities and the potential impact of regional tensions on global energy stability.

Iran launched another attack on several liquefied natural gas (LNG) installations in Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City early Thursday, according to a statement from QatarEnergy. The state-owned energy company reported that the assault triggered a major fire and caused extensive damage to the facilities, though no casualties have been confirmed so far. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed to contain the situation.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defense earlier stated that Iran had fired missiles targeting Ras Laffan, which is recognized as the world’s largest LNG production and export hub. Following the incident, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement urging calm and calling for de-escalation, accusing Iran of violating its territorial boundaries.

The renewed attack underscores rising regional tensions and potential risks to global energy supply chains centered around Qatar’s LNG infrastructure.

Qatar has accused Iran of crossing limits following an attack on the Ras Laffan gas facility. In a statement issued by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country called for efforts to reduce tensions and protect the region from the consequences of what it described as Iran’s brutal assault.

The statement said that by targeting civilians, civilian infrastructure, and vital installations, Iran’s actions had violated all boundaries. It emphasized the need to work toward de-escalation to safeguard regional and international security and stability.

The remarks came after reports of the Iranian strike on the Qatari gas site, which has raised concerns about further instability in the region.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that escalating tensions could lead to consequences that spiral beyond control and affect the entire world. His remarks came shortly after an attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field, which heightened regional unease.

Following the incident, Qatar reported a missile strike in its Ras Laffan area, resulting in fire and extensive damage. The site includes a major refinery previously identified by Iran as a potential target. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack as audacious and accused Iran of pursuing provocative policies that risk pushing the region into deeper crisis.

The situation underscores growing instability in the Gulf, with both nations trading warnings and accusations as energy infrastructure becomes a focal point of confrontation.

Iran carried out a missile attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial area on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Qatari Ministry of Interior. The ministry reported that the strike caused extensive damage in the zone, which houses the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facility.

Prior to this incident, Iran had issued threats to target such installations in Qatar. The attack marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, as Ras Laffan is a critical hub for global energy supply and a key component of Qatar’s economy.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not provide details on casualties or the extent of the damage beyond the ministry’s statement. The situation remains under observation as regional actors assess the implications of the strike.

Qatar has condemned Israel’s attack on a petrochemical complex linked to Iran’s South Pars gas field, calling it a dangerous and irresponsible act amid heightened regional military tensions. The statement came from Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who noted that the South Pars field is an extension of Qatar’s North Field.

Al-Ansari warned that targeting energy infrastructure poses a major threat to global energy security, as well as to the people and environment of the region. He emphasized the need to refrain from attacking critical facilities and reiterated Qatar’s consistent call for restraint, adherence to international law, and efforts to reduce tensions for the sake of regional security and stability.

The condemnation underscores Qatar’s concern over escalating hostilities in the region and its potential impact on shared energy assets and broader stability.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Doha has issued an urgent notice requesting Bangladeshi expatriates in Qatar to perform their Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at their nearest mosques. The directive, released on Tuesday, follows the Qatari Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs’ call for all residents to offer Eid prayers in mosques due to the ongoing conflict situation in the Middle East.

According to the embassy, the annual Eid congregation traditionally held at the Bangladesh MHM School and College grounds will not take place this year. The embassy emphasized respect for the Qatari government’s decision and urged all Bangladeshi nationals to observe the instructions carefully and maintain necessary precautions while attending prayers.

The advisory reflects Qatar’s broader security measures in response to regional instability, aiming to ensure public safety during the Eid celebrations.

Qatar Airways announced on Monday that it will operate a limited number of flights to and from Doha starting Wednesday through March 28. The airline said the restricted schedule covers dozens of destinations across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North and South America, and the Asia Pacific. The carrier explained that its regular operations remain suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace and that full services will resume once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority declares the airspace safe for reopening.

The decision comes as air travel across the Middle East faces severe disruption following the US and Israel’s military assault on Iran on February 28. The attacks triggered retaliatory Iranian missile and drone strikes across the region, affecting several Gulf countries that serve as major aviation hubs. Many travelers remain stranded as airspace restrictions persist.

In the United Arab Emirates, authorities reported that flights at Dubai International Airport were gradually resuming after a drone-related incident caused a nearby fuel tank fire. Officials confirmed the fire was contained and no injuries occurred.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry stated that diplomatic discussions cannot proceed unless Iran stops its ongoing attacks. At a weekly briefing, ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said that diplomacy could only resume if the assaults end, emphasizing that as long as Gulf countries remain under attack, it is not the time to form committees. He called for a firm stance to protect regional nations and demanded an immediate halt to the strikes.

Al-Ansari rejected a proposal from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to form a committee to investigate attacks on civilian infrastructure in Gulf states. Iran has denied involvement in such attacks. The Qatari spokesperson noted that threats and strikes on civilian targets have continued since the conflict began, citing a missile intercepted near a residential area in Doha. He added that partial evacuation orders were issued after Iranian media warned that certain companies and areas could be targeted.

Al-Ansari said Qatar is working to reduce tensions but is unaware of any formal mediation between the United States and Iran at this time.

Qatar’s Interior Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad said on Friday that the country’s security situation remains stable despite ongoing Iranian drone and missile attacks across the Middle East. Speaking to Qatar Television, he confirmed that the government has contingency plans to address potential future strikes and emphasized readiness to take any necessary measures to preserve national stability. He noted that Qatar’s early warning system has been effective, with authorities responding to reports of missile fragments at over 600 sites nationwide. The minister also assured that Qatar has sufficient water and food reserves to sustain the population for extended periods.

The statement comes as Gulf nations face intensified Iranian attacks following the United States and Israel’s launch of a war against Iran on February 28. Although Iran claims to be targeting US and Israeli military assets, its strikes have damaged civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities, slowing regional energy production. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has further heightened global economic concerns.

Earlier this week, the UN Security Council condemned the Iranian attacks, while Qatar’s UN ambassador described them as violations of international law and damaging to regional relations.