Macron urges protection of civilian sites amid escalating Gulf strikes

08:55, 19/03/2026, Thursday
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Macron urges protection of civilian sites amid escalating Gulf strikes
French President Emmanuel Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate halt to military strikes targeting civilian infrastructure following recent attacks on energy facilities in Iran and Qatar. The French leader emphasized that safeguarding civilian populations and maintaining energy security must take priority as regional tensions continue to mount.

Diplomatic engagement after attacks

Macron confirmed he had spoken with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and US President Donald Trump following the strikes, stressing that implementing a pause on attacks targeting energy and water facilities was in their "common interest." In a statement on the social platform X, the French president warned that "civilian populations and their essential needs, as well as the security of energy supplies, must be protected from military escalation."

Critical infrastructure targeted

The French leader's appeal comes after an Israeli airstrike targeted Iran's South Pars gas field, halting production at two major refineries. Additionally, QatarEnergy reported a missile attack on the Ras Laffan Industrial City, the Gulf nation's primary liquefied natural gas production hub. The strikes mark a dangerous escalation in targeting energy infrastructure with potentially severe humanitarian consequences.

Wider conflict intensifies

The joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, launched on Feb. 28, has reportedly claimed approximately 1,300 lives, including former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting American military assets, raising fears of a broader regional conflagration that could disrupt global energy supplies.

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