Israeli warplanes struck multiple Iranian energy infrastructure sites late Sunday into Monday, hitting oil processing facilities and pipeline junctions in what Israeli officials described as a targeted campaign to degrade Iran's capacity to fund proxy forces across the Middle East. The operation came after days of intensive back-channel signalling between Jerusalem and Washington, with the Biden-era red lines having been replaced by a more permissive posture under the current US administration.

A senior Israeli defence official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the strikes were not impulsive but the culmination of weeks of intelligence preparation and diplomatic groundwork. The official said Israel informed the United States hours before the operation began, and that Washington did not demand it halt. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's office declined to comment directly, stating only that 'Israel has the right to defend itself from existential threats.'

Iranian state media acknowledged explosions near the Kharg Island oil export terminal and at a refinery in the Bandar Abbas region, though officials in Tehran initially attributed the damage to 'technical accidents.' Iran's Supreme National Security Council convened an emergency session Monday morning, with state television broadcasting footage of firefighters battling blazes at the affected sites.

Energy markets responded sharply, with Brent crude futures surging more than seven percent in early Monday trading. European capitals, including Rome — where Prime Minister Meloni had just concluded energy security talks with Qatar's emir — issued urgent calls for restraint and convened emergency consultations among EU foreign ministers. Qatar, a key liquefied natural gas supplier to Europe, reaffirmed its commitment to stable energy exports but warned that prolonged regional instability could disrupt shipping lanes.

The United Nations Secretary-General called for an immediate ceasefire and urged both parties to step back from escalation. Iran's foreign ministry warned of a 'calculated and crushing response at a time and place of our choosing,' while Israel's prime minister addressed the nation Monday morning, stating that Israel had 'done what was necessary' to set back Iran's strategic capabilities by years. Analysts warned the coming 48 hours would be critical in determining whether the conflict remained contained or spiralled into a broader regional confrontation.