In the last 48 hours, Iran has targeted oil and gas infrastructure across the region in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities linked to the South Pars gas field on 18 March. Targeted sites include the Ras Laffan LNG facility in Qatar, Mina al-Abdullah oil refinery in Kuwait, Al Hosn Gas Field, Habshan facility in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), SAMREF refinery in Saudi Arabia, Jubail Petrochemical Complex in Saudi Arabia, and the Mesaieed Petrochemical Complex in Qatar. Iran also targeted Israel's Haifa oil refinery.
Israeli sources describe the attack on the Iranian gas field as a coordinated warning signal to the Islamic Republic meant to make clear that if Iran keeps destabilizing the global economy through the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, its energy sector will be hit. On 19 March, President Trump stated on Truth Social that Israel would not conduct further attacks on South Pars facilities and warned Iran that subsequent attacks on Qatar's LNG facilities would trigger American strikes on South Pars.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan released a joint statement expressing their readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure the safe passage of commercial shipping through the Strait. Germany and the Netherlands said a ceasefire or at least a cessation of hostilities was a precondition for participation. Despite the statement, it is unlikely any of these countries deploy military assets to the Strait until a ceasefire is in effect.
According to an Axios report, the U.S. is considering plans to occupy or blockade Kharg Island to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This could include U.S. troops on the ground or a U.S. Navy blockade of tankers bound for China and other destinations. An unnamed official is quoted as saying, "We need about a month to weaken the Iranians more with strikes, [and] take the island." This reinforces the idea that the conflict will continue for some time as both parties climb the escalation ladder with no clear off-ramp in sight.
Situation Report
- 20 March: Iranian armed forces spokesperson says tourist attractions, resorts, and entertainment centers around the world are no longer safe for U.S. officials and military personnel.
- 20 March: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a phone call with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, warned that allowing the U.S. to use British military bases would be treated as participation in the aggression.
- 19 March: An Iranian missile strike damaged Israel’s largest oil refinery in Haifa and caused power outages; officials later said the damage was limited, though the refinery was shut and repairs were expected to take several days.
- 19 March: QatarEnergy CEO told Reuters that 17 percent of LNG export capacity was wiped out for three to five years after Iranian attacks on facilities.
- 19 March: According to Treasury Secretary Bessent, the U.S. may ease restrictions on Iranian oil already at sea to stabilize the global oil supply.
- 19 March: The UAE's state security service announced the dismantling of a network operating inside the state, funded and managed by Hezbollah and Iran, and the arrest of its members.
- 18 March: Qatar declared Iranian embassy military, security attachés, and their staff persona non grata following strikes targeting their oil infrastructure in Ras Laffan Industrial City.
- 18 March: Kuwaiti authorities arrested 10 members of a Hezbollah-linked terrorist cell.
- 18 March: U.S. CENTCOM reported that 7,800 targets had been struck in Iran since the conflict began, including over 120 Iranian vessels damaged or destroyed.
Airspace Status
- Bahrain: airspace closed
- Cyprus: airspace open
- Egypt: airspace open
- Iran: airspace closed
- Iraq: airspace closed
- Israel: airspace partially open/restricted
- Closed to most commercial traffic. El Al plans to operate outbound flights with a maximum of 130 passengers each to New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Bangkok, Phuket, Tokyo, Paris, London, Milan, Madrid, Munich, and Athens from 21–28 March.
- Jordan: airspace restricted
- Kuwait: airspace closed
- Lebanon: airspace partially open/restricted
- Oman: airspace open/restricted corridors
- Qatar: airspace closed
- Airspace is currently closed to standard traffic following recent missile interceptions. Qatar Airways announced it would be operating a limited number of flights 18–28 March, primarily for repatriation purposes.
- Saudi Arabia: airspace open
- Periodic suspension of flights at Riyadh due to drone activity.
- Syria: airspace effectively closed
- UAE: airspace partially open
- Airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are experiencing intermittent closures and significant cancellations due to periodic drone strikes.
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