Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that Israel acted alone in striking a major Iranian gas field. The attack on South Pars, part of the world’s largest natural gas reserve, marks a major escalation in the conflict. It set off a cycle of retaliation that has now reached Qatar’s energy infrastructure and sent global gas prices soaring. The strike also raised new questions about how closely Israel and the United States are coordinating their war plans.
What Happened in the Attack
Israel hit Iran’s South Pars gas field. The site is part of the largest natural gas field in the world. In response, Iran struck an energy complex in Qatar and attacked other energy targets across the Gulf region.
The Qatari facility hit by Iran is called Ras Laffan. It is home to the world’s biggest liquefied natural gas processing plant. QatarEnergy says about 17 percent of its export capacity is now affected by the attack.
The strikes pushed energy prices higher across the globe. In the UK, gas prices briefly hit nearly 183p per therm before settling at 154.8p. That is an 11.3 percent jump in a single day. European prices also rose more than 10 percent.
Trump’s Reaction and the US Role
President Donald Trump said he did not know about the Israeli attack in advance. Speaking at a news conference, Netanyahu acknowledged that Trump has since asked Israel to avoid further strikes on energy targets.
But three unnamed Israeli officials told Reuters that the attack had been coordinated with the United States beforehand. They said they were not surprised by Trump’s public response. Netanyahu pushed back against any suggestion that Israel had misled or dragged the US into the war. “No one can tell the US leader what to do,” he said.
Iran’s Warning and Qatar’s Anger
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Tehran would show “zero restraint” if its infrastructure is struck again. The message was clear. Any new attack would bring a strong response.
Qatar’s prime minister called the Iranian attack on its energy complex a “very dangerous escalation.” He said it would have “significant repercussions for global energy supplies.”
The Strait of Hormuz Factor
About one-fifth of the world’s daily oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has already restricted shipping through that waterway in response to the war. The latest strikes add new pressure to global energy markets that were already strained by weeks of conflict.
Israel’s Bigger Strategy
Netanyahu said Israel is inflicting massive damage on Iran’s military capacity. He said Israeli forces have even attacked Iran’s navy in the Caspian Sea. He described the goal as weakening the Iranian regime, though he said it is up to Iranians to decide whether to overthrow their government.
“We can create the conditions, but they have to exploit those conditions at a certain point,” he said. “If the regime survives, it will be a lot weaker, shorn of industries it built over decades.”
Iran Hits Back at Israel
On the same day as Netanyahu’s news conference, verified footage showed fire and smoke at an oil refinery in Haifa in northern Israel. The attack was reportedly carried out by an Iranian missile. Israel’s energy minister described the damage to the country’s electricity grid in the north as “localized and not significant.” But the strike showed that Iran can still reach Israeli infrastructure despite weeks of Israeli attacks.
What Comes Next
The United States is now considering lifting sanctions on some Iranian oil to calm energy markets. That would be a major reversal in policy. The conflict is no longer just about Iran and Israel. It now involves Qatari energy, global gas prices, and the stability of Gulf states. Netanyahu insists Israel acted alone. But the consequences of this strike are being felt everywhere.
Israel’s attack on South Pars was a calculated move. It hit Iran’s energy infrastructure and drew retaliation against a US ally in Qatar. Global gas prices spiked. Trump said he was not told in advance. Iran vowed zero restraint if attacked again. The United States is now weighing whether to ease sanctions to keep energy markets from spiraling out of control. The war is no longer contained. It has become a global energy crisis.
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