Key gas facilities and oil fields in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, have been temporarily shut down following a missile attack by Iran. A statement issued by the Abu Dhabi Media Office confirmed that operations were suspended due to safety precautions after debris from intercepted missiles fell, causing no casualties or injuries.
The Habshan gas facility was closed as a precautionary measure to avoid any potential major accidents and to assess damages. The Bab oil field was also affected, with work halted. Experts and technical staff are working to restore the gas facilities and the Bab oil field to quickly resume energy supply.
The attack has led to a significant increase in global oil prices, with Brent crude rising to $108.66 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate reaching $98.65 per barrel. The five percent surge in oil prices is attributed to growing concerns of a prolonged conflict in the region.
The US and Israel's attacks on Iran, followed by Iran's retaliatory actions, have severely impacted oil and gas shipments from the Middle East, with several production sites halted. This has resulted in a severe oil crisis worldwide.
On Tuesday, Israel launched an attack on Iran's largest gas field, the South Pars gas field. Iran retaliated by targeting oil facilities in Qatar, while also threatening to attack oil and gas facilities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari stated that targeting the South Pars field's facilities could have severe consequences. He warned that attacks on energy infrastructure pose a threat to global energy security, the region's population, and the environment.
Al-Ansari reiterated Qatar's stance that targeting key facilities is unacceptable and urged all parties to exercise restraint, respect international law, and work to reduce tensions. He emphasized the need for all parties to act in a manner that maintains regional security and stability.
These statements come after Iranian media reported that the US and Israel launched a joint aerial attack on the South Pars gas field's storage tanks in the southern Iranian city of Asaluyeh. The attack resulted in the halt of production at two refineries with a combined daily capacity of approximately 100 million cubic meters.
The US and Israel have been engaged in a joint aggression against Iran since February 28, resulting in the deaths of around 1,300 people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks on Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military bases, causing damage to infrastructure and disrupting global markets and air travel.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, former US President Trump stated that Iran has been sent a clear message, and further attacks on energy facilities are not necessary. The report noted that Israel targeted Iran's South Pars gas field, one of the world's largest gas reserves and a crucial source of Iran's energy.
The American newspaper reported that Trump was aware of the attack in advance, but his position is not final, and he may support targeting Iranian energy facilities again if Iran takes further provocative actions in the Strait of Hormuz.
It is worth noting that Iran has declared all oil facilities in the region that are owned or operated by US companies as targets following the Israeli attack on the South Pars field. In this context, Iran launched a missile attack on the Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar, resulting in a fire, but no human or material damage, according to Qatar Energy.
Qatar strongly condemned the attack on the Ras Laffan Industrial City, describing it as a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of state sovereignty.
