US EditionOil Prices Jump as Iran Conflict Widens and Energy Sites Come Under Fire
Israel targeted Iranian naval vessels at Bandar Anzali in the Caspian Sea, marking a northern escalation in its campaign against Iran, according to Israeli military sources.
- On March 19, 2026, Brent crude jumped about 4 to $107.38 a barrel amid fears of supply disruptions after regional attacks on energy sites.
- Israel widened its campaign by striking northern Iran and naval vessels off Bandar Anzali, coinciding with the confirmed death of Esmail Khatib and US reports of a government degraded by Operation Epic Fury.
- Local officials confirmed that Saudi Arabia destroyed four ballistic missiles and Abu Dhabi suspended Habshan operations after debris fell, while civilians were killed in Israel and the West Bank.
- Iran responded by issuing evacuation warnings for oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, while QatarEnergy reported extensive damage at Ras Laffan; President Donald Trump said he is forming a coalition to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, though most allies declined.
- Analysts warn that the March 18 strike on the South Pars gas field marks the first hit on Iran's Gulf infrastructure, raising concerns over attacks on the East‑West pipeline or Red Sea export facilities.
20 Articles
20 Articles
Energy facilities in countries around the Persian Gulf have been subjected to new attacks on Thursday. Israel also said it had attacked several Iranian naval vessels in the Caspian Sea.
The Israeli military said on Wednesday it had hit several Iranian ships in its first attack on the Iranian navy in the Caspian Sea, calling the attack one of its most significant since the start of the war with Iran in late February, saying it had largely disabled the Islamic republic's capabilities in the sea.
Times of India
The Economic TimesIsrael launches historic strikes on Iranian naval vessels in Caspian Sea
In a groundbreaking development, Israel has officially reported its fighter jets attacking Iranian naval vessels in the Caspian Sea, a notable first for its military operations in northern Iran. The strikes focused on vessels equipped with cutting-edge armaments and a critical command center at a key port.
The Israeli Army has announced that its fighter planes attacked on Wednesday "key Iranian Navy infrastructures" in the Caspian Sea.
Oil Prices Jump as Iran Conflict Widens and Energy Sites Come Under Fire
Israel widened the scope of its attacks on Iran late on March 18, saying it launched air strikes in the north of the country, with Israeli media saying Iranian naval vessels were being hit on the Caspian Sea coast. As Israel attacked in the north, it also hit Iranian energy infrastructure sites in the Gulf, with Tehran retaliating by firing at Gulf Arab countries' oil and gas facilities, with the already widespread conflict threatening to spin o…
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