JERUSALEM – Israeli authorities confirmed Thursday that missiles fired by Iranian forces struck oil refining facilities in the northern coastal city of Haifa, though officials described the resulting damage as minimal.
Israel’s Energy Ministry reported that while the attack affected the Oil Refineries complex in the port city, the impact was not considered substantial. Energy Minister Eli Cohen noted that electrical service was temporarily interrupted but quickly restored for most customers who lost power.
“The damage to the power grid in the north is localized and not significant,” Cohen said. “Also, in the barrage towards the north, there was no significant damage to Israeli infrastructure sites.”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for targeting the Haifa refineries, as well as facilities in the southern city of Ashdod, describing strikes on “a range of security targets and military support centres of the Zionist regime” that “were hit by pinpoint missiles.” Officials have not yet confirmed whether the Ashdod facility sustained any damage.
Law enforcement reported that explosive ordnance disposal teams responded to multiple locations throughout Haifa where projectiles had landed. Authorities confirmed no injuries resulted from the attack.
Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection indicated that fragments from an intercepted missile fell within Haifa city limits and are being assessed as potentially hazardous material.
The Israel Electric Corporation confirmed that shrapnel damaged a transmission line serving the Haifa region, leading to temporary power loss. However, electrical service was fully restored to all affected customers within approximately 45 minutes.
This incident follows a previous attack in June when Iranian missiles struck the same Haifa refinery complex, resulting in three fatalities and forcing operations to cease temporarily.
