CAIRO, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Energy infrastructure attacks rippled across the Middle East on Thursday as the United States, Israel, and Iran exchanged strikes for a 20th consecutive day, sending oil and gas prices surging, knocking out a significant share of Qatar's LNG export capacity, and prompting warnings of catastrophic global economic consequences.

The following is a brief overview of the latest developments in the escalating crisis affecting much of the region and beyond.

The United States

-- Regarding Israel's Wednesday attack on Iran's South Pars offshore natural gas field and Iran's retaliatory strike on Qatar's liquefied natural gas facilities, President Donald Trump said Washington had no prior knowledge of the Israeli action and that Qatar was not involved.

"NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field unless Iran unwisely decides to attack" Qatar again, Trump said, adding that if Iran attacks Qatar, the U.S. military "will massively blow up the entirety" of the South Pars gas field.

-- Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine said U.S. attack helicopters are targeting Iran-aligned armed groups in Iraq and that major combat operations in Iran will continue.

-- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said there is no "definitive time frame" for ending the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, noting the decision will rest with Trump.

-- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated the United States may lift sanctions on roughly 140 million barrels of Iranian oil currently in transit.

-- Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said U.S. objectives in Iran differ from Israel's and that Iran's government "appears to be intact" despite ongoing military pressure.

Israel

-- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a press conference that Iran has lost its uranium enrichment and missile production capabilities, calling these two of the three goals of the recent U.S.-Israeli operation. He said the third goal, regime change, now depends on the Iranian people.

He also said that the United States and Israel together had destroyed Iran's entire naval fleet in the Caspian Sea.

-- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its air force destroyed an Iranian Mi-17 military helicopter at Sanandaj Airport in western Iran overnight. IDF forces reportedly killed more than 20 Hezbollah fighters and struck dozens of the group's military sites in southern Lebanon.

-- Missile fragments from an Iranian strike hit Israel's largest oil refinery in Haifa, northern Israel, causing reported damage.

Iran

-- Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned of "zero restraint" if Iranian infrastructure is attacked again.

-- Araghchi criticized a Pentagon budget request of over 200 billion U.S. dollars for the war on Iran as the "tip of the iceberg," calling it a war of choice "imposed on both Iranians and Americans."

-- Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters threatened more severe retaliatory strikes if U.S. and Israeli attacks on its energy facilities continue.

-- Iran reported that one of its air defense systems struck a U.S. F-35 fighter jet over central Iran early Thursday. CNN cited U.S. military sources saying the jet made an emergency landing at a U.S. base in the Middle East.

Lebanon

-- At least five people were killed and 10 wounded in Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon, bringing the death toll since March 2 to 1,001 people and the injured 2,584, according to the Lebanese Public Health Ministry.

-- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urged an immediate halt to the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon, saying, "An end to the escalation is necessary to create a suitable atmosphere for negotiations, which is currently unavailable due to the expansion of military operations."

-- Russia blamed Israel for a "targeted" airstrike that wounded an RT television crew in Lebanon.

-- Lebanon's state electricity company said Israeli attacks earlier Thursday disabled a main power substation.

-- The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia reported that the ongoing conflict has caused an estimated 63 billion U.S. dollars in economic damage across the Arab region within just two weeks. Lebanon is among the worst-hit, it said, facing severe economic and humanitarian strain as attacks intensify and key infrastructure is compromised.

Iraq

-- Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces said two members were killed and several wounded in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes.

-- Shiite militia Kata'ib Hezbollah announced a five-day suspension of operations targeting the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, contingent on certain conditions.

-- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq said it carried out 29 military operations against "enemy bases" in Iraq and the region in the past 24 hours.

-- The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority extended the country's airspace closure for another 72 hours.

-- Iraq's Foreign Ministry condemned the "dangerous escalation" targeting Iran's energy facilities.

Yemen

-- Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi renewed the group's support for Iran, saying, "We affirm our support for Iran and our readiness on the military front to respond to whatever developments may require."

Kuwait

-- Kuwait Petroleum Corporation confirmed drone attacks on two major oil refineries, causing fires that were quickly extinguished. No casualties were reported.

Oman

-- In an article for The Economist, Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi said the United States has lost control of its foreign policy and is engaged in a war that is not its own.

United Arab Emirates

-- The Ministry of Economy and Tourism denied imposing restrictions on capital movement or preventing foreign investors from accessing funds.

-- Operations at Habshan gas facilities were temporarily suspended due to debris from missile interceptions.

-- The Defense Ministry said air defense systems intercepted seven ballistic missiles and 15 drones.

-- Minister Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber warned that attacks on energy infrastructure amid escalating tensions could have far-reaching global consequences.

Qatar

-- Reports said several LNG facilities were hit by Iranian missiles, causing fires and extensive damage.

-- QatarEnergy CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said the attack knocked out about 17 percent of the country's LNG export capacity, with repairs expected to take three to five years.

-- During a visit to Doha, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged Tehran not to expand the conflict into neighboring countries, calling Israel the main instigator of the war.

Saudi Arabia

-- Foreign ministers of 12 Arab and Islamic states met in Riyadh and called on Iran to halt attacks and avoid measures that could close the Strait of Hormuz. They condemned Israel's aggression in Lebanon and its "expansionist policy."

Türkiye

-- Sinan Seha Turkseven, general manager of the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency, said tourism operations are continuing safely, with flights at international airports operating normally.

Britain

-- Wholesale gas prices rose to 180 pence per therm before settling at around 171, up 20 percent for the day and more than double pre-conflict levels. Brent Crude climbed above 116 U.S. dollars per barrel in early trading.

France

-- President Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate end to military strikes on civilian infrastructure, particularly energy and water facilities, in the ongoing Iran war. ■