Israel Strikes Iranian Gas Field Against Trump's Wishes
Israel conducted a unilateral strike on Iran's South Pars gas field, prompting President Donald Trump to demand a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure.
Israel executed a unilateral military strike against the South Pars gas field in Iran on March 18, targeting petroleum and gas infrastructure. The operation was conducted without prior White House involvement, though reports indicate that Donald Trump had been informed in advance despite his initial claims on Truth Social that the U.S. knew nothing of the action.
The strike caused Brent crude prices to spike to nearly $119 per barrel during subsequent retaliatory exchanges. Trump expressed disapproval of the operation, stating, "I told him don't do that," in reference to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump's opposition is rooted in concerns over global oil price stability and the potential for future economic reconstruction in Iran.
Benjamin Netanyahu publicly acknowledged that Israel acted alone. He pledged to halt further strikes on gas infrastructure following the request from the U.S. president. This decision marks a point of divergence between the White House and the Israel Defense Forces, the latter of which advocates for targeting energy infrastructure to accelerate the collapse of the Iranian regime.
