Israel hits Iran oil facility, as PM Netanyahu warns of ‘many surprises’
This appears to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war
The Iran war exploded further late on Saturday as pillars of flame rose above an oil storage facility in Tehran and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised “many surprises” for the next phase of the week-old conflict.
Iranian state media confirmed the strike as video footage showed the horizon glowing against the night sky. Israel’s military confirmed new strikes that shook neighbourhoods in Tehran’s east and south but did not immediately comment on targets.
It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. State media blamed “an attack from the US and the Zionist regime” at the facility that supplies the capital and neighbouring provinces in the north.
Earlier in the day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised for attacks on “neighbouring countries”, even as its missiles and drones flew towards Gulf Arab states and hardliners asserted that Tehran’s war strategy would not budge.
A rift between more pragmatic politicians looking to de-escalate the war and others committed to battling the United States and Israel could complicate any diplomatic efforts.
Conflicting statements involved two of the three members of the leadership council overseeing Iran since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the war’s opening air strikes.