Gulf markets fall as Israel-Iran conflict escalates

DUBAI/BANGALORE, June 15 (Arab News): Stock markets across the Gulf fell on Sunday morning after Israel and Iran launched fresh attacks on each other overnight, sparking fears of a widening conflict in the Middle East.

Israel said it had targeted Iran's nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders in strikes that started on Friday and continued over the following days, in what it warned would be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.

Iran responded by launching attacks on Israel and calling off Sunday's nuclear talks that the US said were the only way to halt Israel's bombing.

The Qatari stock market index slid 2.9 percent by around 10:15 Saudi time, with almost all constituents in negative territory.