PERSIAN GULF REGION — Iran announced that its South Pars gas field was hit on March 18. It was the first reported strike on Iran's Gulf infrastructure since February 28.

A barrage of Iranian missiles killed two people in Israel near Tel Aviv the same day. Tehran said the attacks were to honor Ali Larijani's death. A statement read by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps on state television said the attacks used Khoramshahr-4 and Qadr missiles.

Iranian media reported strikes in Lorestan and Hamedan provinces and in Fars Province on March 18.

Iran threatened to attack energy facilities throughout the Persian Gulf region. Qatar reported a fire at its main gas hub, Ras Laffan, after an alleged Iranian missile attack. Emergency crews were deployed to contain the fire at Ras Laffan. QatarEnergy reported extensive damage at the Ras Laffan gas hub.

Qatar demanded that Iran's military and security attaches and their staffs leave the country within 24 hours. Qatar blamed Israel for the attack on South Pars facilities. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari called the targeting of facilities linked to South Pars a "dangerous and irresponsible step." Majed Al-Ansari warned that attacks on energy infrastructure threaten global energy security, regional stability, and the environment.

Saudi Arabia said it had destroyed four ballistic missiles headed toward Riyadh. Saudi Arabia reported an attempted drone attack on a gas facility in its eastern region. Fragments of one of the missiles fell near a refinery south of Riyadh.

The United Arab Emirates criticized the attack on South Pars facilities.

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said "Iran's government appears to be intact but largely degraded by Operation Epic Fury." She added "Even so, Iran and its proxies remain capable of and continue to attack US and allied interests in the Middle East." Gabbard also said "If a hostile regime survives, it will seek to begin a years-long effort to rebuild its missiles and UAV (drone) forces."

Global oil prices increased after news of the strike on Iran's South Pars gas field. South Pars is the Iranian part of the world's largest natural gas deposit, which Iran shares with Qatar.

Iran confirmed the death of its intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib. A day before Khatib's confirmation, Iran acknowledged that two other senior figures had been killed.