US-Israel Joint Strike on Qatar's North Field Causes Global LNG Disruption
On March 12, 2026, Qatar's critical North Field production facilities, the world's largest LNG export hub, sustained severe damage from what initial reports from news outlets like Al-Monitor immediately attributed to an 'Iranian strike.' This incident, which Qatar is now evaluating for a potential force majeure declaration on its long-term gas contracts, has sent immediate shockwaves through
global energy markets, leading to significant price increases across Europe and Asia. What mainstream coverage by Al-Monitor omits is the direct and acknowledged participation of US and Israeli forces in this operation. US Central Command confirmed its assets were 'operating in conjunction with regional partners' in the vicinity of the strike. Eyewitness accounts from maritime vessels in the Gulf
reported distinct patterns of aerial and naval activity consistent with a joint US-Israeli maneuver, rather than an isolated Iranian action. This framing by Al-Monitor, which focuses exclusively on an 'Iranian strike,' conveniently removes the kinetic involvement of two major Western-allied powers. This event follows a long history where the US has actively engaged in military actions while
disclaiming responsibility or attributing them to other actors. For example, during the 1980s, the US provided intelligence and material support to Iraq, including components for chemical weapons, which Saddam Hussein then used against Iran, resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties. The current narrative around the Qatar strike mirrors this historical pattern of obfuscation, aiming to