The war in the Middle East continues, and the Gulf conflict over energy heats up. Israel strikes Iran's massive South Pars gas field. The Revolutionary Guards retaliate in Qatar, repeatedly striking the large Ras Laffan facility. Fears for global energy supplies: oil prices soar. A new case emerges in the US following the resignation of counterterrorism chief Kent: Intelligence Director Gabbard denies the White House's claims about the conflict, then adjusts her stance.

The Pentagon plans to ask Congress for $200 billion for the war, according to the WP. Trump is considering sending thousands of troops to the Middle East, Reuters reports. The US president is meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi today.

LIVE NEWS FOR MARCH 19:

5:45 AM – Iranian attacks kill three Palestinian women in the West Bank and a man in Israel.

Iranian missile attacks have killed three Palestinian women in the West Bank and a foreign worker in central Israel, emergency services announced today. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, rocket fragments struck a hair salon last night in Beit Awa, in the occupied West Bank near Hebron (southern Israel), killing three women. These are the first Palestinian casualties from Iranian attacks since the start of the Middle East war on February 28. Eight injuries were reported, including one woman in serious condition. Magen David Adom, Israel's equivalent of the Red Cross, announced the death of a man in central Israel following an Iranian missile attack, bringing the number of victims in the country due to the war to 15. According to this source, the man was a "foreign worker," a Thai citizen employed in the agricultural sector, according to Israeli media.

5:22 AM – Qatar: All fires at the gas plant attacked by Iran are "under control."

All fires that broke out at Qatar's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facility following the Iranian attack are "under control," the Interior Ministry announced today. "Civil Defense has completely extinguished all fires in the Ras Laffan industrial zone," the ministry said, adding that there were no injuries and that cooling and safety operations are ongoing.

4:59 a.m. – Saudi Arabia: "We reserve the right to retaliate militarily against Iran."

Saudi Arabia said today that it "reserves the right" to retaliate militarily against Iran, which regularly targets the country with drones and missiles. "We reserve the right to take military action if necessary," Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah said, stressing that "the Kingdom will not give in to pressure; on the contrary, such pressure will be

will turn against those who exercise them."

4:05 a.m. – Trump: "We will destroy Iran's gas field if Tehran attacks the Qatari site again."

US President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy Iran's massive South Pars gas field if Tehran again attacks the key Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facility in Qatar. Trump claimed the United States "knew nothing" about the strike that led to Iran's retaliatory strike against Ras Laffan. "There will be no further attacks by Israel against this critically important and valuable South Pars field unless Iran recklessly decides to attack a completely innocent country, namely Qatar. In that event, the United States of America, with or without Israel's assistance or consent, will massively destroy the entire South Pars gas field with a force and power the likes of which Iran has never seen or known before," Trump wrote.

(Unioneonline/vf)

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