Qatar has successfully shot down two Iranian warplanes and suspended liquefied natural gas (LNG) production after drone strikes hit key energy facilities.
News reports that Tehran expanded its retaliatory attacks across the Gulf region, triggering fresh fears of a full-scale regional war.
Speaking on Monday, Qatar’s defence ministry disclosed that its air force downed two Sukhoi Su-24 bombers from Iran, marking the first time a Gulf state has directly struck Iranian aircraft since Tehran launched coordinated attacks across the region.
“Qatar Emiri Air Force successfully shot down two (Su-24) aircraft coming from the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the ministry said in a statement, without disclosing the fate of the pilots.
The dramatic escalation follows Iranian retaliation for joint US-Israeli strikes that reportedly crippled Iran’s top leadership.
Since then, Iran has unleashed waves of missiles and drones targeting ports, airports, hotels, residential areas and military installations across oil-rich Gulf states allied with Washington.
At least six people have been killed and dozens injured since the bombardments began.
The crisis deepened after drone strikes hit two facilities operated by QatarEnergy, forcing the state-owned energy giant to suspend LNG production.
Qatar is one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas, and the disruption immediately rattled global markets.
European gas prices surged by more than 50 per cent, while oil prices jumped nearly nine per cent amid fears of prolonged supply shocks.
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