Trump Vows US Retaliation if Qatar Attacked After Iran Strikes Gulf States

President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that Israel would refrain from further attacks on Iran’s South Pars gas field, but warned that the United States would retaliate “massively” if Qatar were attacked again. This comes after a series of escalating tensions in the region, including Iranian attacks on Gulf states and a prior Israeli strike on the South Pars field.

Escalation of Conflict

Iran launched attacks targeting gas facilities in Qatar, as well as oil and gas infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait, in response to an Israeli strike on its South Pars natural gas field. Qatar reported damage to liquefied natural gas (LNG) sites, resulting in fires, though no injuries have been reported so far. The United Arab Emirates condemned the attacks as a “dangerous escalation,” shutting down gas operations at its Habshan gas facility and Bab field after intercepting incoming projectiles. Saudi Arabia also reported intercepting Iranian drones targeting its natural gas facilities.

Trump’s Response and Warnings

Trump addressed the situation on his Truth Social platform, asserting that Israel had “violently lashed out” at South Pars “out of anger” but that the strike had only impacted a “relatively little section” of the world’s largest gas field. He claimed the US “knew nothing about this particular attack,” though reports indicate coordination between Jerusalem and Washington regarding the strike [Reuters].

Trump explicitly warned Iran to cease attacks on Qatar’s energy infrastructure, and Saudi Arabia reserved the right to military action following the attacks on its facilities. He stated he did not want to authorize widespread destruction due to the long-term implications, but would “not hesitate to do so” if Qatar’s LNG sites were attacked again.

Gulf States Condemn Iranian Attacks

Foreign ministers from Gulf Arab states convened a meeting to address the Iranian attacks, expressing a loss of trust. Prince Faisal bin Farhan of Saudi Arabia criticized Iran’s attacks on Riyadh, suggesting they were a deliberate attempt to pressure neighboring countries and undermine diplomatic efforts [Reuters]. A joint statement from the summit, including Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey and UAE, denounced the attacks as deliberate and unjustified.

Broader Regional Impact

An attack on a ship off the coast of the UAE resulted in a fire, and the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center reported the crew of another vessel near Qatar was safe, though the cause of the incident remains unclear. More than 20 vessels have been attacked during the ongoing conflict as Iran attempts to disrupt shipping lanes.

The conflict has also impacted events on the ground in the West Bank, with an Israeli strike resulting in at least three deaths and 13 injuries. Gulf countries have scaled back public gatherings for Eid al-Fitr celebrations as a precautionary measure.

US House Speaker Comments on Operation

US House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated that the US operation against Iran was “all but done,” though the situation in the Strait of Hormuz was prolonging it. He suggested the US had largely achieved its objectives of neutralizing Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities and naval forces, and called for assistance from regional countries in securing the Strait of Hormuz [Reuters].