On July 7, Qatar officially accused Iran of launching an attack on its LNG tanker, Al Rekayat, which experienced a fire in its engine compartment, necessitating an evacuation in the Strait of Hormuz. This incident significantly heightened the threat of a disastrous explosion due to the vessel's liquefied natural gas cargo. Concurrently, the Saudi-flagged supertanker Wedyan was hit by missiles from the IRGC, while a third commercial ship also came under attack overnight. Analysts characterized these incidents as Iran's most daring maritime offensive since the conflict's onset. This series of assaults violated the ceasefire established in June and prompted the US to initiate its most extensive military response against Iranian positions to date. Qatar, a vital ally of the US and the location of the Al Udeid Air Base — the largest US military facility in the Middle East — now faces a pivotal choice regarding its reaction to the Iranian aggression against its vessel.
