Haifa refinery shut after Iran’s missile attack
Tensions between Iran and Israel escalated dramatically early Tuesday as Iranian state television reported a new wave of drone and missile strikes targeting major Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Haifa.
The Haifa-based Bazan Group has announced the shutdown of all its refinery facilities after an Iranian attack significantly damaged a power station responsible for generating steam and electricity.
The company reported that the strike caused severe damage to critical infrastructure, forcing a full halt to operations. The attack also resulted in the deaths of three individuals.
This development marks a major escalation in Iran's ongoing campaign against Israeli strategic sites, with the industrial complex in Haifa now joining a growing list of targeted locations.
The attack comes amid mounting hostilities following a series of retaliatory actions by both nations over the past week.
According to Iranian state TV, the offensive was launched in response to an earlier Israeli strike on the headquarters of Iran’s state broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), located in central Tehran.
Iranian officials described the bombing as a "wicked act of war crime" aimed at silencing the truth.
In a statement carried by state media, the Iranian Foreign Ministry denounced the attack on IRIB and accused Israel of being “the biggest enemy of truth” and “the killer of journalists.”
Iranian authorities also issued evacuation warnings for two Israeli news channels — N12 and N14 — claiming the directive was in retaliation for the destruction of the IRIB building.
Israel has officially confirmed responsibility for the attack on IRIB. It claimed that the facility had been used by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for military communications and coordination.
Interceptions and claims of F-35 downing
The Israeli military said it intercepted at least 10 incoming missiles, though some drones reportedly breached air defences before being neutralised. Civil defence forces have been placed on high alert across central Israel.
Meanwhile, Iranian media outlet Nour News claimed that an Israeli F-35 stealth fighter jet was shot down near the northwestern city of Tabriz. Israel has not commented on the report.
UNSC: Iran calls strikes ‘proportionate and defensive’
Speaking before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Iran’s Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani defended the attacks as “proportionate defensive operations directed exclusively at military objectives and associated infrastructure.”
He warned that any country providing logistical or military support to Israel would be considered complicit in what he called “a growing regional crisis.”
Trump calls for de-escalation amid G7 Summit
US President Donald Trump, speaking from the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, urged Iran to engage in de-escalation talks with Israel “before it’s too late.”
He reaffirmed US support for Israel while calling for restraint to prevent further escalation.
Shipping disruptions and cyber interference reported
Maritime authorities in the Persian Gulf have reported increased shipping disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, with commercial vessels experiencing electronic interference with navigation systems.
Naval forces from several countries are monitoring the situation closely.
As the situation continues to unfold, both nations remain on high alert, with fears growing that the conflict could draw in regional and global powers.
Source: Al Jazeera
