Israeli forces struck the Asaluyeh gas processing plant in Bushehr province in southwestern Iran on March 18, targeting the country's largest and most important gas facility.

The attack marks a major escalation in Israel's campaign against Iranian energy infrastructure, hitting the heart of a complex that processes output from the South Pars gas field, the world's largest, holding more than 20% of proven global gas reserves. Iran shares the offshore field with Qatar, where it is known as the North Dome.

The complex had already been hit in a limited strike on March 8, when Iran's petroleum ministry confirmed that both the South Pars field and the Fajr Jam Gas Refining Company had been targeted.

A sustained disruption to Asaluyeh would cripple Iran's domestic gas supply, which fuels power generation, petrochemical production and household heating. The facility is also critical to Iran's gas exports.

The strike comes as oil prices hover near $103 per barrel and the US Federal Reserve prepares to announce its interest rate decision. Global energy markets have been in turmoil since the war began on February 28, with the Strait of Hormuz largely closed and Gulf energy infrastructure across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait hit by Iranian retaliatory strikes.

Russia has separately lodged a formal protest with Israel over strikes near the Bushehr nuclear power plant, located roughly 12 kilometres from the gas complex, citing risks to hundreds of Russian personnel operating the reactor.

There has been no immediate comment from the Israeli military, nor have Iranian news agencies acknowledged an attack by 12:00 UTC.