IRAN UNLEASHES ATTACKS: DUBAI AIRPORT HIT, SHIPS TARGETED IN GULF
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–IRAN has escalated its attacks, targeting Dubai airport and ships in the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting oil markets and air and maritime traffic. The oil-rich Gulf has borne the brunt of Iran’s attacks in response to US-Israeli strikes that sparked the Middle East war .
Key Issues:
– _”Iran has effectively stopped cargo traffic in the narrow strait through which about a fifth of all oil is shipped.”_ – AP News
– Dubai Airport Attack: Two drones fell near Dubai International Airport, injuring four people, but flights continued.
– Ship Attacks: A container ship and a bulk carrier were hit off the coast of the UAE, and a third ship was hit off Oman, causing a fire.
– _”The Strait of Hormuz is a critical choke point for the global oil trade.”_ – Daily Caller News Foundation
– Oil Price Surge: Iran’s military command warned that global oil prices could surge to $200 per barrel due to the attacks.
– Gulf Energy Infrastructure Targeted: Iran has targeted Gulf energy infrastructure, including oil fields and refineries, prompting wild swings in prices .
Saudi Arabia intercepted drones targeting the Shaybah field, crucial to its production, while explosions rang out over Qatar and the UAE reported fresh attacks.
Saudi Arabia also said it intercepted seven ballistic missiles targeting its eastern region and the Prince Sultan Air Base, where an American service member was fatally wounded on March 1.
Tehran appears to be attempting to knock major Gulf refineries offline while also tightening its chokehold on the strait in a quest to inflict maximum pain on the global economy.
In the past few days, Saudi Aramco’s sprawling Ras Tanura facility, home to one of the Middle East’s largest refineries, was targeted as well as the UAE’s Ruwais refinery — one of the largest in the world.
Iranian attacks have already forced state-owned QatarEnergy, one of the world’s largest producers of liquefied natural gas, to halt production last week and declare force majeure.
Energy producers in Kuwait made similar declarations, which are a warning that events beyond their control may lead them to miss export targets.
SOURCE== AFP ==EXCEPT THE HEADLINE AND INTRO PLUS A FEW PARAGRAPHS
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