Iran missile strike hits world largest LNG plant, triggers fire at Ras Laffan

Emergency response teams are battling a fire at Qatar’s main gas facility after a missile strike by Iran, escalating tensions across the Gulf’s critical energy infrastructure.

Qatar’s Ministry of Interior said civil defence teams were deployed to contain the blaze at Ras Laffan Industrial City, the country’s primary liquefied natural gas (LNG) hub.

In a statement, QatarEnergy confirmed “extensive damage” following what it described as missile attacks on the facility. The company, the world’s largest LNG producer, added that all personnel had been accounted for and no casualties were reported.

The attack marks a further escalation in regional hostilities, coming hours after Iran threatened to target oil and gas assets across the Gulf in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its South Pars gas field.

Iran’s warning had specifically referenced key energy assets in Qatar, including the Mesaieed Petrochemical Complex and the Ras Laffan refinery, as well as facilities in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Reacting to the incident, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the strike, describing it as a “dangerous escalation” and a violation of the country’s sovereignty.

“Qatar considers this assault a direct threat to its national security,” the ministry said.

The latest development followed earlier disruptions to LNG output after attacks on Ras Laffan and a power facility in Mesaieed Industrial City earlier this month, which forced a temporary suspension of gas production.

Energy analysts warned that continued attacks on key infrastructure in the Gulf, a region that underpins global LNG and oil supply, could intensify market volatility and deepen concerns over energy security, particularly in Europe and Asia.