Missiles hit Saudi Arabian capital as Iran vows to target oil fields

The Qatari government has said it is dealing with a fire in the area of Ras Laffan – home to a refinery that Iranian state mediaearlier said it would target and warned should be evacuated.

Qatar is one of several Gulf Arab states that had been bracing for Iran’s retaliation after Israel struck Iranian facilities in the South Pars field, the world’s largest gas field, today.

The South Pars and the adjacent North Dome fields have been shared between Iran and Qatar for years.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Majed Al Ansari, condemned Israel’s attack on the key economic target as being ‘reckless and irresponsible’.

QatarEnergy said:

Emergency response teams were deployed immediately to contain the resulting fires, as extensive damage has been caused.

All personnel have been accounted for and no casualties have been reported at this time

Striking video shows the moment Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh was targeted by missiles.

A bright orange fireball lit up the sky as huge explosions rocked the city.

It comes just hours after Iran threatened to wage a ‘full scale economic war’ by attacking energy facilities across the Middle East.

Oil prices have surged today after Iran said the US and Israel struck one of its gas facilities.

Brent oil rose 5% to over $108 a barrel after Iran vowed to hit energy facilities throughout the Gulf in retaliation to what it said was an attack on a facility on the Gulf coast serving a massive gas field it shares with Qatar.

The three main US stock indexes all opened lower, and European stock markets reversed earlier gains.

Earlier today, oil prices fell slightly after Iraq said it had resumed limited oil exports through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, using a pipeline that avoids the effectively shut Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil flows.

The prices dropped despite Iran vowing revenge after Israel killed security chief Ali Larijani, a key force leading Iran since the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the first strikes of the war.

The latest flareup in violence appears to rule out any opening of the Strait of Hormuz – which in peacetime carries about a fifth of global oil and LNG trade – to shipping in the near term.

Oil prices have soared by five percent as Iran targets oil and gas facilities across the Middle East after threatening ‘full scale economic war’.

Energy sites in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have been evacuated after the regime said it would pummel them with strikes in ‘the coming hours’.

‘These centres have become direct and legitimate targets ‌and will be targeted in the coming hours,’ the Islamic Republic warned.

‘Therefore, all citizens, residents, and employees are ‌requested to immediately leave these ⁠areas and move to a safe distance without ⁠any delay.’

The evacuation warning came after Iranian facilities in South Pars and Asaluyeh ‌were struck by Israeli missiles.

An Iranian assault would further devastate the global economy, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz already sparking fears of a worldwide economic crisis.

Donald Trump does not want any further strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, according to the Wall Street Journal.

It is understood that the US President could be open to attacks on the facilities in the future – however, this would depend on Tehran’s actions in the much-contested Strait of ‌Hormuz.

Israel’s military says it has identified missiles launched from Iran – and is shooting them down.

A spokesman added:

Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat

The IDF said people in affected areas would shortly receive instructions on their phones.

The price of oil has now reached more than $110 per barrel in the aftermath of Iran’s missile strike at Ras Laffan in Qatar.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose to $111 a barrel.

It follows reports on the ground that Iran’s attack caused ‘extensive damage’ to the Ras Laffan facility – which produces around 20 per cent of the world’s supply of liquefied natural gas.

Closer to home, two Iranian men have been charged under the National Security Act after a spying plot to ‘target Jews in London’ was uncovered.

Nematollah Shahsavani, 40, and Alireza Farasati, 22, will appear at Westminster magistrates’ court on Thursday.

Read the full story by Lettice Bromovsky below

The Israeli military has entered new territory – revealing it has begun targeted airstrikes on targets in northern Iran, for the first time.

A brief message on its official Telegram said:

A short while ago, the Israeli Air Force, acting on navy and IDF intelligence, began striking targets in northern Iran for the first time during Operation Roaring Lion.

A little-known shipping law has been loosened by the White House – in a bid to shield the US from spiralling oil prices.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration would suspend the Jones Act – a 1920 law that requires American-made ships be used to transport goods between US ports.

The act will be suspended for 60 days, allowing ‘vital resources like oil, natural gas, fertiliser, and coal to flow freely’.

It is unclear how much of a difference the move will make.

A US source has claimed the country knew about Israel’s plans to strike the world’s largest natural gas field – but opted not to take part.

The insider declined to reveal whether or not the US administration agreed with the decision to attack the South Pars gas field.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said following the strikes:

Such aggressive actions will not achieve anything for the American Zionist enemy and their supporters.

Rather, they will complicate the situation and could lead to uncontrollable consequences that will affect the entire world.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry has demanded two Iranian diplomats and their staff leave the country within 24 hours.

It comes in response to Iran’s repeated attacks – with Qatar declaring the official’s security attaches also unwelcome.

They have all been branded ‘persona non grata’.