The Iran-Israel conflict entered a perilous new phase on Thursday as Tehran fired missiles at key Gulf energy sites, retaliating against Israeli strikes on its gas infrastructure and raising fears of a wider regional war.
The target was Ras Laffan, a massive complex that houses the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant. This marks the second attack in 48 hours. On Wednesday, missiles damaged the Pearl Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) facility. Today, QatarEnergy confirmed that several more LNG facilities were hit, causing “sizeable fires and extensive damage.”
“In addition to the previous attack on Ras Laffan Industrial City on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, which caused extensive damage to the Pearl GTL facility, QatarEnergy confirms that in the early hours of Thursday, 19 March 2026, several LNG facilities were also targeted,” the country’s largest energy company said in a post on X.
Qatar strongly condemned the strike. Officials called it a “blatant violation of international law” and a direct threat to global energy security and the environment.
The escalation is expected to deepen the global energy crisis, with the US-Iran conflict already roiling markets.
All you need to know about Ras Laffan Industrial City
Ras Laffan Industrial City is Qatar’s main hub for LNG production and gas processing, and hosts the world’s largest LNG export facility.
The complex houses major installations, including the Pearl GTL and ORYX GTL plants, QatarEnergy LNG facilities, the Dolphin gas processing plant, the Laffan Refinery, and multiple integrated power and water plants.
Located about 80 kilometres north of Doha, Ras Laffan spans roughly 295 square kilometres and includes a port with an enclosed water area of around 4,500 hectares, making it the largest artificial harbour in the world.
Earlier this week, the Pearl GTL facility, which accounts for a significant share of global GTL output, halted production amid the escalating conflict.
During the latest attack, at least five missiles were fired at the complex, with one strike causing major damage and subsequent hits triggering fires that authorities said they were working to contain.
In addition to LNG processing, the industrial hub also hosts gas-related facilities, including a gas-to-liquids plant, LNG storage, condensate splitters, and an oil refinery.
How the attack on Ras Laffan Industrial City affects India
The damage to Ras Laffan could have significant implications for South Asia, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, which rely heavily on LNG imports from Qatar.
According to an analysis by CNN, these countries may be bracing for power cuts and factory slowdowns soon as the bulk of LNG imports flow through Ras Laffan Industrial City.
India imports nearly 40% of its LNG from Qatar, according to S&P Global data. Any prolonged disruption could lead to supply shortages, higher energy costs, and potential power cuts, as well as industrial slowdowns.
According to Kpler, a supply shock from the Gulf could ripple across global energy markets, compounding volatility already triggered by the conflict.
