Israel strikes Iran natural gas facility in coordination with U.S.
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Quick Summary
The Israeli Air Force struck a natural gas processing facility in southwestern Iran, two senior Israeli officials said. Why it matters: This is the first time Israel has struck natural gas facilities in Iran, which are key to Iran's economy.
The Israeli officials said the strike was coordinated with and approved by the Trump administration. A U.S. Defense official confirmed that. The semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that several facilities in the South Pars gas field near Bushehr were targeted. According to the report, emergency teams were on the scene and trying to extinguish the fire. State media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps had warned that several energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar should be evacuated due to potential attacks. Several hours later the Iranians conducted a missile strike on Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City and hit energy facilities, QatarEnergy said in a statement, noting that there was "extensive damage" but no known casualties.
Flashback: The Trump administration objected to Israel's earlier strike on oil depots in Tehran and asked Israel not to hit energy infrastructure without U.S. approval. Behind the scenes: Two Israeli and U.S. officials said the strike on the gas facility was coordinated between the Israeli prime minister's office and the White House.
"The U.S. was aware, but was not part of the attack", a third source said. The Israeli official said it was aimed at signaling to Iran that if it continues disrupting oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz there could be an escalation in the targeting of its energy facilities and a worsening of the economic crisis in the country. "It was a signal of what could come next," the Israeli official said.
What they are saying: "Remember, for all of those absolute 'fools' out there, Iran is considered, by everyone, to be the NUMBER ONE STATE SPONSOR OF TERROR. We are rapidly putting them out of business!" President Trump wrote on Truth Social shortly after the Israeli strike.
Qatar condemned the Israeli strike as a threat to global energy security.