ISTANBUL

Israel has resumed operations at the Leviathan natural gas field in the eastern Mediterranean after a 32-day halt linked to the war with Iran, according to Israel’s Energy Ministry.

The ministry decided to restart production at the Leviathan field, allowing exports to Egypt and Jordan to resume, Israeli economic newspaper Globes reported.

Globes said the Tamar field remained the only operational gas field during the conflict, while it remains unclear whether the Karish field has also resumed operations.

Israel shut down the Leviathan and Karish fields on Feb. 28, when the war with Iran began, amid concerns the facilities could be targeted in attacks, the report said.

Israeli authorities remain concerned about potential attacks on offshore gas platforms and fields in the Mediterranean, the newspaper added.

Khan Herzog, chief economist at BDO and an adviser to Israel’s Natural Gas Association, said the shutdown of the Leviathan and Karish fields cost Israel about 1.5 billion shekels ($478 million) due to higher electricity costs and reduced gas revenues, according to the report.

The region has been on alert since the US and Israel launched an air offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people so far, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and infrastructure damage while disrupting global markets and aviation.