Iran-Israel Conflict Escalates with Energy Attacks, Leadership Killings

The Middle East is engulfed in an escalating geopolitical conflict following Israel's targeted killings of senior Iranian officials, including intelligence chief Esmaeil Khatib and security chief Ali Larijani. These assassinations are part of a broader US-Israeli campaign against Iran, which has also seen attacks on Iran's South Pars gas field. In retaliation, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on oil and gas facilities in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, vowing to destroy the energy infrastructure of its Gulf neighbors if further attacks occur. Qatar responded by expelling Iranian diplomats after its main gas facility suffered extensive damage. The conflict has also drawn in Lebanon, with Israeli strikes on Beirut and rocket launches by Iran-backed Hezbollah. The Strait of Hormuz remains de facto closed, contributing to a significant surge in oil prices and threatening global energy supplies. US intelligence assesses Iran's regime as 'intact but largely degraded' and confirmed no nuclear enrichment rebuilding efforts.