The Israeli Defense Forces said the attacks targeted “infrastructure of the Iranian regime” in the capital, without providing operational details. The strikes came a day after Trump publicly cautioned Israel against repeating attacks on Iranian natural gas facilities, highlighting emerging divergences within the U.S.-Israeli alignment.

Iran’s retaliation in recent days has expanded the conflict’s geographic scope, with Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates reporting missile activity early on Friday. The widening theatre of operations underscores the vulnerability of Gulf states as the confrontation increasingly targets strategic economic assets.

Iranian strikes earlier hit Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, a key hub processing roughly one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas supply. Damage to the facility is expected to take years to repair, according to initial assessments, amplifying concerns over long-term supply disruptions in global energy markets.

Saudi Arabia’s main Red Sea port was also attacked on Thursday, despite efforts to reroute exports away from the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint that Iran has sought to pressure by threatening or disrupting transit.

Energy prices surged on Thursday following the strike on Qatar’s gas infrastructure, reflecting market anxiety over supply shocks. However, oil prices retreated on Friday after European countries and Japan signaled readiness to support maritime security operations to ensure continued passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States also outlined measures to increase oil output, helping to offset immediate supply fears and stabilize market sentiment. The Strait remains a conduit for roughly one-fifth of global oil flows, making any disruption a significant risk to international energy stability.

The attacks on high-value energy infrastructure across the Gulf have highlighted both Iran’s retaliatory reach and the limitations of existing air defense systems in protecting dispersed, high-capacity facilities.

The conflict, which escalated after U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28 following failed negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, has since resulted in thousands of casualties and triggered cascading economic and security repercussions across the region.

Washington said it had not been informed in advance of Israel’s earlier strike on Iranian gas infrastructure, a development that adds complexity to coordination between the allies as the conflict evolves.

Ukrainian officials said the suspension applies mainly to attacks on energy infrastructure, which has been repeatedly targeted during winter. The move comes as temperatures in Kyiv are forecast to plunge dramatically, raising fears of widespread humanitarian hardship.

Authorities in Ukraine said they are prepared to reciprocate by halting strikes on certain Russian infrastructure during this period. However, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stressed that there is no binding truce or signed agreement between the two sides.

The decision follows intense diplomatic pressure from Washington, which has been pushing for limited confidence-building measures. Officials described the pause as an opportunity to explore negotiations rather than a breakthrough toward ending the war.

Kyiv has suffered repeated blackouts and heating outages due to sustained attacks on power facilities. With winter conditions worsening, any interruption to electricity and heating poses serious risks to civilian life.

Ukrainian authorities confirmed that no overnight strikes were reported on major energy facilities after the announcement. Still, military officials warned that Russia has shifted focus toward logistics and supply routes in recent days.

In Moscow, officials acknowledged that the request came directly from Trump and was accepted to create space for talks. They emphasized that the halt is temporary and conditional, not a permanent change in military strategy.

Residents of Kyiv remain skeptical that the pause will hold or lead to lasting relief. Many say they have grown accustomed to short-lived promises that fail to stop long-term attacks.

“I don’t trust any of it,” said a retired resident in the capital, reflecting widespread public doubt. People fear that strikes could resume at full force once the pause expires.

Ukraine’s air defenses have been stretched thin after months of heavy drone and missile attacks. Delays in deliveries of air defense systems have worsened the country’s ability to protect major cities.

Officials said European funding delays affected shipments of key defensive equipment through U.S. programs. This left Kyiv vulnerable during recent waves of strikes that knocked out heating across entire districts.

Despite the halt over Kyiv, Ukrainian military sources reported continued clashes and strikes in other regions. Fighting remains intense along eastern front lines, particularly in the Donetsk region.

Russia continues to advance slowly in contested areas, maintaining pressure far beyond the capital. Analysts say this underscores how limited and fragile the current pause really is.

Weather forecasts indicate temperatures could drop as low as minus 26 degrees Celsius from Sunday. Hundreds of residential buildings are still without heating, deepening concerns for elderly and vulnerable residents.

Diplomatic efforts remain complicated by unresolved issues, especially territory and control of strategic sites. Ukraine has firmly rejected any proposal that involves surrendering land captured during the war.

Officials said the idea of suspending strikes on energy facilities was discussed during recent talks abroad. Future meetings may be delayed or relocated due to shifting global diplomatic priorities.

Despite cautious language from leaders, many Ukrainians see little reason for optimism. They say survival through another harsh winter remains the immediate priority.