Iran strikes Qatar gas hub, Khamenei vows revenge for Larijani killing

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said that an Iranian attack had resulted in "serious damage" to its Ras Laffan industrial area, the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility — responsible for nearly 20% of global supply

In a statement posted to X, the ministry called the attack a “dangerous escalation … as well as a direct threat to its national security” and said it reserves the right to respond.

The strike came after Tehran vowed to retaliate for an Israeli strike near its South Pars gas field — one of its most important energy assets — by striking US oil interests in the Gulf. Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei also vowed revenge on Wednesday for Israel's killing of top Iranian security official Ali Larijani, saying that "the criminal murderers of these martyrs will soon have to pay."45

Meanwhile, the Saudi Defense Ministry said on Wednesday evening that it had intercepted a number of ballistic missiles and drones, including missiles and drones launched toward the kingdom’s oil-rich Eastern Province.

Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz had warned of “significant surprises” targeting Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

In Lebanon, at least 12 people were killed and 27 wounded in a series of Israeli airstrikes in the Basta and Zuqaq al-Blat neighborhoods of central Beirut, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported. Also on Wednesday, Israel said it had struck several gas stations in southern Lebanon that it said were linked to Hezbollah.

Also on Wednesday, the Turkish Defense Ministry said that NATO is deploying another US Patriot missile defense system to Turkey’s southern province of Adana, home to the Incirlik Air Base. One Patriot system was deployed to Malatya province last week.

NATO air defense systems have intercepted three missiles fired from Iranian territory toward Turkey since the war began on Feb. 28, according to Turkish authorities.