Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 01:39pm on 19 Mar 2026,Thursday International
The Middle East conflict has sharply escalated after Israel’s strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field triggered widespread retaliation across Gulf energy infrastructure. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed former President Donald Trump had “no prior knowledge” of the attack, though reports suggest otherwise. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes on key facilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, intensifying regional tensions. The crisis has disrupted global energy markets, with oil prices surging above $115 per barrel and gas prices rising sharply amid fears of supply shortages and Strait of Hormuz disruptions. (PC: AP)
