West Asia war: Iran’s IRGC claims retaliatory strikes on US-linked oil facilities, Israeli targets

Iranrsquos Islamic Revolution Guards Corps IRGC has taken responsibility for attacks on oil facilities that it said were linked to the United States in the region reported the ANIThe IRGC stated that the strikes were part of the 63rd wave of its ongoing retaliatory operation Operation True Promise 4 which was launched following USIsrael strikes on IranThe IRGCrsquos Public Relations Office said in a statement that the 63rd wave of attacks was carried out with full force as part of its ongoing Operation True Promise 4 It added that this wave was launched in retaliation for the killing of Iranrsquos Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib and others during what it described as an act of aggression according to the ANIThe Corps added that the strikes were also a response to attempts by adversaries to punish Iran for nationwide rallies in support of the countryrsquos Islamic establishment and in protest against external aggressionThe IRGC further said ldquothe attack on Irans energy infrastructure took the conflict to a new stage The Islamic Republic did not intend to expand the war to oil facilities and did not wish to harm the economies of friendly and neighboring countries However with the enemys aggression against energy infrastructure Iran has effectively entered a new stage of the conflict and the necessity to defend the countrys energy infrastructure compelled a retaliatory strike against Americanlinked energy facilitiesrdquo the news agency reportedTargets hit in IsraelThe IRGC claimed to have hit as many as 80 military and militarysupport targets in several locations across Israel These included Rishon LeZion Ramla and Lod in central Israel Eilat in the south Ramat Gan and Bnei Brak east of Tel Avivand Bat Yam and Holon south of Tel AvivThe military said all targets were struck surgically using multiwarhead missiles and attack drones The IRGC also issued a warning to US and Israeli forces saying ldquoif this is repeated subsequent attacks on your energy infrastructure and that of your allies will not cease until total destruction and our response will be far more severe than tonights strikesrdquo as per the ANIUS and Qatar respondMeanwhile US President Donald Trump said that the United States and Qatar were not aware of the attacks He clarified that Israel would not target Qatarrsquos South Pars LNG field unless Iran attacks Qatar firstTrump stated that Washington would not hesitate to authorize a strong response against Iran if Qatarrsquos energy facilities are targeted again In a post on Truth Social he said ldquoThe United States knew nothing about this particular attack and the country of Qatar was in no way involved nor did it have any idea that it was going to happen Unfortunately Iran did not know this or the facts pertaining to the South Pars attack and unjustifiably attacked a portion of Qatars LNG Gas facilityThey further warned that no further attacks would be carried out by Israel on the South Pars Field unless Iran decided to attack Qatar again In that case the United States with or without Israelrsquos assistance would take action to destroy the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field with a strength that Iran had never experienced beforeI do not want to authorise this level of violence because of its longterm implications for Iran but if Qatarrsquos LNG is attacked again I will not hesitaterdquo he concludedImpact on oil pricesThe attacks on Iranrsquos gas fields and Qatarrsquos LNG facilities have pushed global oil prices higher as markets worry about supply disruptions from the Middle East Analysts warn that continued threats to production and shipping routes could keep energy costs elevated raising concerns about regional stability and the global economyWith ANI Inputs