# Middle East Conflict Threatens Chip Supply Chains as Helium Production Goes Offline - Date: 2026-03-16 - Category: Space & Aerospace The Middle East conflict is creating new vulnerabilities in the semiconductor supply chain, with Qatar's helium production offline and bromine shipments from Israel at risk, threatening chip manufacturing at a time of unprecedented AI-driven demand. Qatar's helium plant at Ras Laffan, responsibl... ---