S&P Global Energy Platts / Energy Security Sentinel
Middle East Conflict
Energy production and supply infrastructure on the firing line in 2026
Middle East Conflict
Attacks on Middle Eastern energy infrastructure have increased significantly in 2026 as Iran, Israel and the US are engaged in a war that spread across the region. The incidents underscore the vulnerability of oil and gas production, storage, export and shipping assets in one of the world's most important energy hubs.
Retaliation against US
In retaliation against US and Israelis air strikes, Iran has launched drones and missiles on oil and gas production facilities and refineries in some countries with US military bases as well as commercial ships around the Strait of Hormuz.
S&P Global’s Energy Security Sentinel has recorded a total of 106 attacks across all energy asset types in the first six months of 2026, already exceeding all full-year counts since the compilation began in 2018.
There is a record of
106 attacks
across all energy asset types in the first six months of 2026.
The period saw a sharp escalation against oil processing units in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE, with the total number of refinery attacks reaching 40, the highest refinery-related tally in the Sentinel dataset.
Meanwhile, at least 40 commercial vessels were hit by missiles, drones, projectiles and other hostile actions across the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman and nearby waters, highlighting the renewed vulnerability of one of the world's most important energy chokepoints.
Upstream assets also came under sustained pressure as 19 attacks were recorded against oil and gas fields, production facilities and gas infrastructure in countries including Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Overall, some of the broadest and most diversified attack campaigns on Middle Eastern energy infrastructure were recorded during the six-month period, underscoring operational risks for energy suppliers amid geopolitical conflicts.
The Middle East war has redrawn oil trade patterns as Iran exerts control over the Strait of Hormuz for military and diplomatic leverage. Cargo flows though the chokepoint have decreased significantly, while some ships have been shuttling oil between Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman ports in risky voyages.
Commodities prices have jumped since war broke out in the Middle East, triggering major supply concerns. Attacks on key infrastructure and talks between the US and Iran have driven price swings.
Here are some of the price assessments that have been hit by volatility since the conflict began.
Physical crude prices, tanker rates surged to record highs after the war broke out. Front-month Dubai crude jumped to
$169.75/b
Middle East conflict hits Qatari LNG exports
The global LNG industry has spent most of 2026 coping with the loss of flows from Qatar, the world’s second-largest LNG exporter in 2025. The war in the Gulf has reduced maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed QatarEnergy to roll back production.
Markets have weathered the conflict better than many analysts expected, thanks in large part to elevated production elsewhere in the world that has helped offset the lost volumes out of the Gulf. Looking ahead, though, market watchers have warned of diminished opportunities to boost production further into 2026, leaving less of a buffer should the supply losses persist well into the latter half of the year.
Middle East oil producers
Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia’s oil industries have been hit hard by the conflict in the Middle East. The three countries accounted for a combined crude output of 13.1 million b/d in July 2026, according to the Platts OPEC+ survey. This is down from 17.59 million b/d before the conflict began.
Published on: September 04, 2026
Contributors: Rosemary Griffin, Eklavya Gupte, Max Lin, Charlie Mitchell
Editor: Gary Gentile
Design: Energy Content Design