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In a new escalation, Israel attacked on June 14 a key gas facility in southern Iran, forcing a shut down of production there.
This was the first time Iranian civilian energy infrastructure was targeted by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) since the start of Operation Rising Lion, a large-scale attack supposedly meant to cripple the nuclear program and offensive capabilities of the Islamic Republic.
“Due to a fire in one of the four units of Phase 14 of South Pars, the production of 12 million cubic metres of gas from the Phase 14 platform has been temporarily halted until this section of the refinery is brought back into operation,” Iran’s Tasnim said in a report.
The semi-offensive news agency, citing local sources and witnesses, said that the strike was carried out using a small drone.
The strike had resulted in a fire, which the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum said was later extinguished. No casualties were reported.
There was no comment from the IDF. However, Fox News reported, citing Israeli officials, that the strike was meant to send a message to officials in Tehran. Furthermore, Israel’s Kan news reported that the IDF intends to target more Iranian energy infrastructure.
Since the start of Operation Rising Lion, the IDF has attacked more than 150 targets in Iran, including two key nuclear sites in Natanz and Isfahan. Some 30 senior commanders and prominent scientists have been also assassinated. From its side, Iran has so far fired more than 200 ballistic missiles and 100 suicide drones at Israel in response, causing casualties and material losses.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed earlier in the day that the large-scale operation would intensify dramatical.
In a video message, Netanyahu said that the operation had set back Iran’s nuclear program possibly by years and rejected international calls for restraint.
“We will hit every site and every target of the Ayatollahs’ regime, and what they have felt so far is nothing compared with what they will be handed in the coming days,” the primer added.
Meanwhile, Iran is reported to be reading more extensive missile and drone strikes against Israel, which remains on high alert.
The targeting of energy infrastructure represents a new front in the ongoing confrontation. The Israeli strike on South Pars heightens the risk to Iran, OPEC’s third-biggest producer. Energy futures could see serious hikes when trading resumes after the weekend.
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