DOHA, March 19 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- QatarEnegy reported a missile attack on Wednesday evening on the Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar’s main site for the production of liquefied natural gas.
“Emergency response teams were deployed immediately to contain the resulting fires, as extensive damage has been caused,” the company said in a statement, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
No casualties were reported.
Qatari Foreign Ministry denounced the brutal targeting of the site as a ‘direct threat’ to its national security as well as regional stability.
“This attack constitutes a dangerous escalation, a blatant violation of the state's sovereignty, and a direct threat to its national security and the stability of the region,” the ministry said in a statement.
Doha said despite its neutrality in this conflict and its commitment to avoiding any escalation, Iran continues to target Qatar and neighboring countries “in an irresponsible manner that undermines regional security and threatens international peace.”
Qatar stressed that it has repeatedly called for avoiding attacks on civilian and energy facilities, including those inside Iran, “in order to preserve the resources of the region's peoples and maintain international peace and security.”
“Iran, however, continues its escalatory policies, which are pushing the region toward the brink and dragging countries not party to this crisis into the conflict,” it warned.
The Iranian attack on Ras Laffan plant “constitutes a violation of Security Council Resolution 2817,” the ministry said, renewing its call for the UN Security Council to uphold its responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security and “to take the necessary measures to halt these serious violations and deter their perpetrators.”
Qatar stressed that “it reserves the right to respond, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter and the right of self-defense guaranteed by international law.”
Qatar “will not hesitate to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security, and the safety of its citizens and residents,” the ministry said.
Wednesday’s attack came hours after a US-Israeli airstrike hit gas storage tanks at Iran’s South Pars field in the southern city of Asaluyeh, halting production at two refineries with a combined capacity of about 100 million cubic meters per day.
Meanwhile, Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi had strongly condemned the attack.
Albudaiwi said the attack represents a grave violation of international law and an unacceptable escalation that threatens regional security and stability, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
He warned that targeting oil and energy infrastructure is unacceptable and poses a direct threat to regional and global energy supplies.
Albudaiwi also called on the international community to act to halt what he described as repeated Iranian attacks that undermine regional and international peace.
He reaffirmed the GCC’s full solidarity with Qatar and its support for all measures taken to protect the country’s security and sovereignty.
Regional escalations continued to rage since Israel and the US have launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing so far around 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.
-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU
