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Israel Targets Iran’s Largest Petrochemical Facility in Escalating Strikes
Israel has announced a major strike on Iran’s largest petrochemical complex, marking a significant escalation in attacks on key economic infrastructure.
Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military carried out a “powerful strike” on the facility located in Asaluyeh, a strategic hub linked to the South Pars gas field — the world’s largest known natural gas reserve shared with Qatar.
Katz said the targeted facility accounts for about half of Iran’s petrochemical production. He added that the strike forms part of a broader effort to weaken Tehran’s economic capacity.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the site had been destroyed, describing it as a key revenue source for Iran’s military operations. He said Israel is “systematically eliminating” what he termed as the financial backbone of Iran’s security apparatus.
Israel Targets Iran’s Largest Petrochemical Facility in Escalating Strikes
Iran Assesses Damage as Tensions Rise
However, Iran’s National Petrochemical Company reported that authorities contained a fire at the Pars site and recorded no injuries. Officials said teams are still assessing the extent of the damage.
The latest strike follows a similar attack on the Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Zone in southwestern Iran, where local officials reported casualties. Israeli authorities now say the affected facilities account for a large share of Iran’s petrochemical exports.
Meanwhile, further strikes hit another petrochemical site in Marvdasht, according to Iranian media, though authorities again managed to contain the fire.
The escalation comes amid an ongoing cycle of attacks between the two countries. Iran previously responded to Israeli strikes by targeting energy infrastructure in Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar. Tehran has warned it could escalate further if attacks continue.
Israeli military spokesman Nadav Shoshani maintained that the operations are part of a defensive response. He said Israel would halt strikes if a ceasefire is agreed but remains ready to act if directed by political leadership.
In recent days, Israel has expanded its campaign to include industrial sectors. Netanyahu recently said strikes had already hit a large portion of Iran’s steel production capacity, aiming to limit its ability to manufacture weapons.
At the same time, Iran has also targeted Israeli infrastructure, including a refinery in the northern city of Haifa, underscoring the growing risk of a wider regional conflict.
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