06:06 AM EDT, 03/19/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Oil prices surged on Thursday following missile attacks by Iran on Qatar Energy's LNG facilities.

International benchmark Brent crude rose 6% to $114.1 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate traded at $96.6.

Qatar Energy said several of its LNG facilities were hit by missile attacks early Thursday, causing fires and extensive damage to its Pearl Gas-to-Liquids facility. The company also said its Ras Laffan Industrial City was hit by attacks on Wednesday.

Iran's attacks on energy facilities in Qatar came in response to Israel's bombing of a natural gas processing facility in Iran, according to media reports.

US President Donald Trump said Israel carried out the strike on Iran's South Pars Gas Field without US knowledge, adding that Qatar was not involved and had no prior awareness of the attack.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran responded by attacking part of Qatar's LNG infrastructure, describing the move as unjustified and unfair.

He warned that no further Israeli strikes on South Pars would occur unless Iran targets Qatar again, and said the US would respond forcefully and "massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field," if Qatari LNG facilities are hit.

"I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long term implications that it will have on the future of Iran, but if Qatar's LNG is again attacked, I will not hesitate to do so," Trump said.

Shares of oil majors were trading higher in early Thursday premarket trading.

BP was up nearly 2%, while TotalEnergies gained 1.8% and Eni rose1.6%.

Chevron ( CVX ) and ConocoPhillips ( COP ) gained 0.7%, while Exxon Mobile was 0.6% higher.

Shell shares edged 0.8% lower.