European natural gas prices rose above €76/MWh on Wednesday for a fourth consecutive session, reaching their highest level since December 2022 as continuing Middle East strikes fueled concerns about further supply disruptions. The US military said it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers near Kharg Island on Tuesday after attacks on its warships, while Tehran retaliated against US targets in Jordan. Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen also launched drones and missiles at energy facilities in southern Saudi Arabia, adding to challenges around restoring normal commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar has suspended shipments and extended force majeure, a contractual exemption for extraordinary events, on cargoes to Europe and Asia through autumn. Reduced LNG (liquefied natural gas) deliveries have slowed European storage injections, leaving inventories below the seasonal average and the market more exposed as winter approaches.