Middle East war: why tit-for-tat attacks on gasfields are a major escalation

An Iranian production facility for the South Pars gasfield was hit. Photograph: Vahid Salemi/AP

The strikes on so-called upstream gas production facilities by both sides of the Middle East war mark a significant escalation and could have long-term consequences.

It is the first time facilities connected to the production of fossil fuel energy have been hit, rather than sites associated more generally with the oil and gas industry.