EXPLAINERThe Iran war enters day 20 as Israeli and Iranian attacks hit energy infrastructure across region. Published On 19 Mar 202619 Mar 2026The Israel-Iran war is escalating across several fronts, with assassinations of senior Iranian officials, and Israeli and Iranian attacks on key energy infrastructure.On day 20 of the conflict, Israel struck Iran’s South Pars gasfield, the world’s largest. Hours later, Iran launched missiles against oil and gas facilities across Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, hitting Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City and setting off fires there.Meanwhile, in the United States, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has been accused of altering her Senate testimony on Iran, allegedly omitting intelligence details that contradicted President Donald Trump’s claims that Tehran posed an imminent threat.Here is the latest:In Iran
Assassination of senior officials: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has declared that Israel will pay for the assassination of three senior Iranian security officials over the course of two days, which includes the recent killing of Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, and the previous killings of security chief Ali Larijani and head of the Basij paramilitary force, Gholamreza Soleimani.
Attacks on Iranian energy and territory: Israel struck Iran’s South Pars gasfield, the largest gasfield in the world. Following this, the Israeli military announced that it had begun striking targets in northern Iran for the first time since the war began on February 28.
Warnings: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued an alert that it would respond to the South Pars hit by attacking oil and gas facilities of neighbouring Gulf states – and hours later, it acted on that threat.
(Al Jazeera)In the Gulf Advertisement
Retaliation against Gulf neighbours: Iran’s missiles heavily damaged Qatar’s Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility – the world’s largest. Analysts warn this could lead to global supply shortages and elevated gas prices. Iran’s missiles also targeted Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, but those strikes were intercepted.
Qatar expels several Iranian diplomats: The country declared the military and security attaches of the Iranian embassy persona non grata, ordering them and their staff to leave the country within 24 hours due to Iran’s repeated attacks.
Saudi Arabia: Riyadh declared that the “little trust that remained in Iran has been completely shattered”. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud warned that “nonpolitical” options are on the table if Iran continues its attacks, …
