Targeting of energy facilities turned Iran war into worst-case scenario for Gulf states

A view of the liquefied natural gas production at the Ras Laffan facility in Qatar.
Stringer/picture alliance via Getty Images
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Rice University

The U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran took a dangerous turn on March 18, 2026, with tit-for-tat strikes on critical energy infrastructure that amount to the most serious regional escalation since the conflict began.

First, an Israeli drone strike targeted facilities at Iran’s Asaluyeh complex...