An Israeli drone struck a refinery in Phase 14 of Iran’s South Pars gas field on Saturday, The Associated Press reported, citing the semi-official Iranian news agencies Fars and Tasnim.
If verified, this incident would be the first reported Israeli attack on Iran’s oil and natural gas industry, a significant escalation amid the ongoing conflict.
The South Pars gas field, one of the world’s largest natural gas reserves, extends beneath the Persian Gulf and is shared between Iran and Qatar, per the AP report. The field is critical to Iran’s energy exports and economic stability.
Israeli strikes have targeted Iranian military and nuclear sites since Friday, but this is the first time a civilian energy facility has reportedly come under attack.
Israel has not immediately acknowledged the drone strike. The refinery and other critical infrastructure in the region are protected by air defense systems, which Israeli forces have been targeting during their recent operations.
The reported attack follows a series of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military sites and nuclear facilities, which have dramatically escalated tensions in the Middle East.
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