DOHA — Iranian ballistic missiles struck Qatar's Ras Laffan gas complex before dawn Wednesday, triggering explosions and fires that inflicted serious damage on the Gulf state's most important energy facility. The attack represents Tehran's boldest military action against a Gulf Cooperation Council member in decades.

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani condemned the strike as "an unprovoked act of aggression that threatens regional stability and global energy security." Emergency crews battled blazes for six hours before bringing the fires under control. No casualties were immediately reported, though several workers were evacuated from the sprawling industrial site.

The Ras Laffan complex processes roughly 40 percent of Qatar's natural gas exports, supplying liquefied natural gas to European and Asian markets. Energy analyst Sarah Mitchell of Gulf Intelligence noted that "any disruption to Ras Laffan sends immediate shockwaves through global energy markets, particularly given Europe's reliance on Qatari supplies." Gas futures jumped 12 percent in early London trading following news of the attack.

Iran has not officially claimed responsibility for the missile strike, though Tehran's Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a cryptic statement Wednesday morning warning Gulf states against "hosting foreign military bases." The attack follows weeks of escalating rhetoric between Iran and Qatar over Doha's hosting of US Central Command facilities. Regional security experts suggest the strike may signal Iran's willingness to target energy infrastructure as leverage in broader Middle East tensions.