Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG Hub Hit by Missile Attack, ‘Extensive Damage’ Reported
QatarEnergy says missile attacks caused extensive damage at Ras Laffan Industrial City, a key LNG export hub, raising concerns about disruptions to global gas supply.
(Reuters) — Qatar's state oil giant QatarEnergy said on March 18 that "extensive damage" has been caused after the Ras Laffan Industrial City was subjected to missile attacks, shortly after the country's interior ministry reported a fire resulting from an Iranian attack on the area.
"Emergency response teams were deployed immediately to contain the resulting fires," the world's second-largest LNG exporter said in a statement. No casualties were reported and all personnel were accounted for, it said.
RELATED: Iran Warns Gulf Oil Facilities Could Be Targeted “In Coming Hours”
Qatar condemned in a statement the attack saying that it represents a "direct threat" to its national security. Iran insists on targeting Qatar and its neighboring countries in an "irresponsible approach," the Qatari foreign ministry added.
Qatar's interior ministry earlier said that civil defense personnel were dealing with a fire in the Ras Laffan area after an Iranian attack. The ministry said that the fire in Ras Laffan area was preliminarily brought under control, with no injuries reported.
Ras Laffan, located 80 km (50 miles) north of Doha, is an energy-industry hub and hosts several international companies.
Iran earlier issued an evacuation warning for several oil facilities across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, including the Ras Laffan Refinery, saying they would be targeted by strikes "in the coming hours," Iranian state media reported.
Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG installations are being evacuated, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on March 18, following Iran's threat to attack Gulf energy facilities.