Tensions in the Gulf have escalated further after reports that an Iranian aircraft was shot down, marking what analysts are calling a major military escalation in the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel.Reporting from Doha, Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi said the incident could signal the start of direct air-to-air combat.“This represents perhaps the beginning of air-to-air combat, and that is a serious escalation in a conflict that is already spiralling three days in,” he said.Iran has not immediately commented on statements issued by Qatar’s Defence Ministry regarding the downing of the aircraft.However, Iranian officials have defended the country’s military actions. A spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tehran has the right to defend itself “with all might” following US-Israeli attacks that reportedly killed several senior Iranian officials.Iran’s envoy to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, described the country’s response as “lawful, necessary and proportionate”.“We target only the military objectives of the hostile forces. We don’t target civilians. We don’t target the interest of neighbouring states,” he said. “Under international law, every state has a duty not to allow its territory to be used for act[s] of aggression against another state.”Meanwhile, the attacks have sparked widespread condemnation from several countries in the region and the United States, who described Iran’s missile and drone strikes as “indiscriminate and reckless” in a joint statement. The countries said the strikes endangered civilians and damaged infrastructure, reaffirming what they called their right to self-defence.Beyond the military dimension, the conflict is also hitting global energy markets.Qatar’s state-run energy company announced it had halted liquefied natural gas (LNG) production due to the attacks. The move sent wholesale gas prices in Europe soaring by nearly 50%, while Asian LNG prices jumped by almost 39%.In Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Defence said two drones attempted to attack the Ras Tanura oil refinery, with a small fire breaking out after they were intercepted.Analysts say energy infrastructure has become a strategic target, with some suggesting the strikes are designed to increase global oil and gas prices and intensify economic pressure.As the situation continues to unfold, fears are growing that the conflict could widen further, with significant military and economic consequences worldwide.Photo credits to WENewsEnglish•