Israel has launched a major airstrike targeting Iran’s key petrochemical infrastructure at the South Pars gas field in Asaluyeh, escalating tensions in the Middle East following recent warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump over attacks on regional energy assets.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that Israel launched a “powerful strike” on the facility. Israeli military spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said that Israel would not grant Iran any immunity, even as diplomatic discussions continue.
The South Pars gas field, jointly operated by Iran and Qatar, accounts for a substantial portion of Iran’s petrochemical output, making it a critical strategic and economic asset.
The latest attack follows an earlier strike on the same facility on March 18, which had already drawn strong international concern.
The White House has not issued an official response to the latest developments. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had previously warned that Israel would refrain from further strikes, while cautioning that the United States would respond forcefully if Iran targeted energy infrastructure in the region.
In a separate escalation, Israeli airstrikes also targeted areas in Tehran, with explosions reported near the Sharif University of Technology. Thick smoke was seen rising over parts of the city following the bombardment.
Iranian and Israeli sources confirmed that several senior officials were killed in the strikes, including Major General Majid Khadmi, head of intelligence in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Israel also claimed responsibility for the killing of Asghar Bakri, a senior commander in the Quds Force’s covert operations unit.
In retaliation, Iran launched missile strikes on northern Israel, including Haifa, where a residential building was destroyed and at least four people were killed.
Iran also fired drones and missiles toward Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. However, these were intercepted by regional air defense systems, preventing further damage.
Source: The Guardian