Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has stated that Israel “acted alone” in carrying out a strike on an Iranian gas field, as tensions continue to rise over attacks targeting energy infrastructure across the region.
Israel struck Iran’s South Pars gas field—part of the world’s largest natural gas reserve—while Tehran responded with attacks on an energy facility in Qatar and other energy sites across the Gulf.
The exchange triggered a sharp increase in global energy prices, with Donald Trump later posting that he had not been informed about the strikes beforehand.
The developments have intensified scrutiny over the level of coordination and unity between Israel and the United States regarding their broader military objectives.
At a press briefing on Thursday, Netanyahu said Trump had specifically requested that there be no further attacks on energy-related targets.
However, Reuters reported earlier on Thursday, citing three unnamed Israeli officials, that the strike on South Pars had been coordinated with the US in advance, though they were not surprised by Trump’s response.
Netanyahu also rejected suggestions that Israel had pulled the US into the conflict or misled Trump, insisting that no one could dictate decisions to the US president.
The strikes on energy facilities represent a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict involving Israel and Iran, which has already retaliated by disrupting shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz.
Roughly one-fifth of the world’s daily oil consumption, about 100 million barrels, passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route along Iran’s coastline.
Following Iran’s strike on Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial zone, home to the world’s largest liquefied natural gas processing facility, QatarEnergy said around 17% of its export capacity would be affected.
Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al-Thani warned that the attack could have “significant repercussions for global energy supplies” and described it as a “very dangerous escalation.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country would show “zero restraint” if its infrastructure were targeted again.
Gas prices, already elevated due to the ongoing conflict, surged after the strike on Qatar. The UK benchmark briefly climbed to nearly 183p per therm on Thursday before easing to 154.8p, representing an 11.3% rise from the previous day. European gas prices also recorded increases of more than 10%.
Meanwhile, the United States is considering easing sanctions on certain Iranian oil exports as part of efforts to stabilise global energy markets.
During his news conference, Netanyahu said Israel had inflicted heavy damage on Iran’s military capabilities and claimed its navy had also been targeted in the Caspian Sea.
He added that Israel was working to weaken Iran’s ruling system, but said any political change would have to come from within the country itself.
“We can create the conditions, but they have to exploit those conditions at a certain point,” he said.
“If [the regime] survives it will be a lot weaker, shorn of industries it built over decades.”
Separately on Thursday, verified footage showed fire and smoke rising from an oil refinery in Haifa in northern Israel following a reported Iranian missile strike.
Israel’s Energy Minister Eli Cohen said damage to the northern electricity grid was “localised and not significant.”
