New Delhi, March 19 -- Amid intensifying conflict in West Asia, Iranian aerial strikes from Wednesday have inflicted major destruction on Qatar's premier gas terminal, hit a Saudi Arabian refinery, shut UAE gas plants, and ignited blazes at two Kuwaiti fuel hubs.

Tehran's reprisal for Israeli strikes against its domestic gas infrastructure represents a significant escalation in the three-week-old conflict.

On Thursday, a drone struck the Aramco-Exxon SAMREF refinery, according to the Saudi defence ministry, which noted that damage is currently being evaluated. Authorities also neutralised a ballistic missile aimed at Yanbu, the port city serving as Saudi Arabia's primary crude export gateway and home to the refinery.

Similarly, drone s...