Qatar joins war against Iran, shooting down Sukhoi Su-24 bomber Jets

2026-03-02 - 18:44

DOHA/TEHRAN – The Gulf has been thrust into a dangerous new phase of conflict after Qatar shot down two Iranian warplanes amid sweeping retaliatory strikes across the region. Missiles and drones have hit energy facilities, airports, and residential areas, killing several people and rattling global oil and gas markets. With refineries burning, air defences on high alert and oil prices surging, the crisis is rapidly escalating into one of the most serious security threats the region has faced in years. Gulf crisis erupted into open confrontation after Qatar’s air force shot down two Iranian Sukhoi Su-24 bombers, the first time a Gulf state destroyed Iranian aircraft in combat. Doha said the jets were approaching from Iran when they were intercepted and downed, a dramatic escalation in Tehran’s sweeping retaliation for devastating US and Israeli strikes on its leadership. Tehran’s response unleashed chaos across the oil-rich region. Missiles and drones struck ports, airports, hotels, residential compounds and military facilities in multiple Gulf states, leaving at least six people dead and dozens wounded. Explosions echoed across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Manama, shattering the long-cultivated image of the Gulf as a sanctuary of stability in a volatile Middle East. The energy heart of the region has not been spared. After drone attacks hit two of its sites, QatarEnergy, one of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas exporters, suspended production, triggering panic in global markets. European natural gas prices surged more than 50 percent, while oil prices jumped nearly nine percent on fears of prolonged supply disruption. Saudi Arabia now stands on edge. A drone strike hit Saudi Aramco’s vast Ras Tanura refinery, one of the region’s most critical oil processing hubs, forcing a partial shutdown. A source close to the Saudi government warned that a coordinated Iranian assault on oil infrastructure would provoke direct military retaliation, saying Riyadh would target Iranian oil facilities if it concludes Tehran ordered a concerted attack. The Saudi army has reportedly moved to “full alert.” In UAE, a drone struck a fuel tank terminal in Musaffah, igniting a fire that authorities said was swiftly contained. No injuries were reported and operations continued, but the message was unmistakable: energy infrastructure across the Gulf is vulnerable. Kuwait faced a barrage of incidents. Smoke was seen rising from the US embassy compound in Kuwait City, though officials stopped short of confirming a direct hit and urged residents to avoid the area. In a stunning friendly-fire episode, the US military said three F-15E Strike Eagles were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences. All crew members parachuted to safety. Shrapnel from intercepted drones rained down on Kuwait’s Mina Al Ahmadi refinery, injuring two workers but leaving production intact, according to the Kuwait National Petroleum Company. Elsewhere, debris struck a power station and a fuel container, contributing to at least 19 injuries nationwide. Bahrain reported its first fatality of the crisis after fragments from an intercepted missile ignited a blaze aboard a ship in the port city of Salman, killing one worker and seriously injuring two others. Despite the intensifying violence, Iran’s foreign minister insisted Tehran harbors “no hostility” toward Gulf nations during a call with Beijing. Several US warplanes crash in Kuwait amid ongoing Iran conflict