The third week of the Middle East conflict has been characterized by an escalation in attacks on energy infrastructure that threaten severe, long-term impacts on global energy supplies. Iran had already been targeting energy assets in neighboring states, but its response to Israel’s strike on South Pars gas processing facilities was swift and fierce, taking these assaults to a whole new level.
US President Donald Trump denied advance knowledge of the 18 March South Pars attack (MEES, 20 March) and says he has told Israel there can be no repeat – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said his country will no longer target energy infrastructure – but the events of the past week show how quickly the conflict can escalate. (CONTINUED - 1157 WORDS)
