The Iran war enters day 20 as attacks by Israel and Iran hit energy infrastructure across the region.

The fighting that began on February 28 has broadened. Assassinations of senior Iranian officials, strikes on major energy sites and cross-border missile exchanges have created a patchwork of damage and diplomatic fallout across the Middle East and beyond.

In Iran

  • Assassinations and revenge vows: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Israel will pay for the killings of three senior security figures in recent days. Those killed include Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, former security chief Ali Larijani and the commander of the Basij paramilitary force, Gholamreza Soleimani.
  • Strikes on energy and new targets: Israel struck the South Pars gasfield, the world’s largest gas field. Israeli forces also said they began striking targets in northern Iran for the first time since the conflict started.
  • IRGC warnings and action: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned it would retaliate for the South Pars hit by targeting oil and gas facilities of neighbouring Gulf states, and launched missile strikes soon after.

In the Gulf

  • Damage to Gulf energy facilities: Iranian missiles heavily damaged Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial complex, setting fires at the liquefied natural gas facility. Analysts warned the damage could create global supply shortages and push gas prices higher. Missile strikes on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were reported but most were intercepted.
  • Qatar expels Iranian diplomats: Qatar declared the Iranian military and security attaches persona non grata and ordered them and some staff to leave within 24 hours after repeated attacks.
  • Saudi warnings: Saudi officials said the remaining trust in Iran has been shattered and warned that nonpolitical responses are on the table. Riyadh cautioned Tehran that Gulf states have military options if attacks continue.
  • Foiled plot in Kuwait: Kuwaiti authorities said they arrested 10 citizens accused of belonging to a cell linked to Hezbollah and planning an operation against critical infrastructure.
  • Bahrain defence claims: Bahrain said its air defences have intercepted and destroyed 132 missiles and 234 drones since the conflict began.
  • US warning and ultimatum: In a public statement, US President Donald Trump denied US or Qatari involvement in the initial strike on South Pars and warned that if Qatar’s energy facilities are attacked again the US would "massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field."
  • Regional context: Gulf ministers said the timing and targets of the Iranian strikes suggested planning and an attempt to pressure Arab states during diplomatic talks.

In the US

  • Intelligence testimony controversy: US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard faces accusations that she altered her written Senate testimony on Iran. A written statement said US intelligence assessed Iran had attempted to rebuild uranium enrichment capabilities after a bombing last June. That point did not appear in her oral testimony.
  • Temporary Jones Act waiver: To ease energy costs, the administration issued a 60-day waiver of the Jones Act. The temporary move allows foreign-flagged ships to carry cargo between US ports to help supply needs.

In Israel

  • Expanded strikes: Israel said it has widened its campaign to include targets in northern Iran.
  • Border fighting and conduct concerns: Heavy fighting with Hezbollah continues along the Israel-Lebanon border. Footage circulated of Israeli soldiers looting homes in southern Lebanon, drawing public criticism.
  • Airport debris incident: Israeli forces reported debris from intercepted projectiles struck Ben Gurion airport after Iranian missile fire, though timing and details were not fully specified.
  • Strategy debate: Some analysts and former officials say Israeli actions aim to pressure Iran’s leadership and reduce options for de-escalation by other countries involved.

In Lebanon

  • Continued clashes: Hezbollah reported attacks on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and strikes on Israeli positions near the border town of Kiryat Shmona.
  • Displacement: Israel’s military operations in Lebanon have displaced more than one million people in less than three weeks.

In Iraq

  • Attack in Salah al-Din: An attack on the 6th Brigade headquarters in Beiji wounded three Popular Mobilisation Forces personnel, one critically.
  • About the PMF: The Popular Mobilisation Forces, known as Hashd al-Shaabi, are a state-recognised umbrella of mostly Shia paramilitary groups that includes factions aligned with Iran.

Oil markets

  • South Korea secures extra supply: South Korea arranged to receive an additional 18 million barrels of oil from the United Arab Emirates through alternative shipping channels to reduce reliance on routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
  • US Fed and inflation outlook: The US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady but raised its inflation outlook, citing the war’s uncertain impact on energy prices. Fed officials said higher energy costs are likely to lift inflation in the short term.

The situation remains fluid. Military moves, diplomatic expulsions and market adjustments continued on day 20, with the main effect visible across energy infrastructure and regional security ties.