ISLAMABAD: Iran launched a series of ballistic missile strikes on Israel’s energy infrastructure overnight, hitting key power plants and oil refineries in a major escalation of the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
Reports indicate that one of the primary targets was the Orot Rabin Power Station near Hadera, approximately 45 kilometres north of Tel Aviv, which supplies around 20 percent of Israel’s total electricity.
The strike on this facility, described by some sources as Israel’s largest power station with a capacity of 2,590 megawatts, reportedly triggered widespread power outages in the suburbs of Tel Aviv and surrounding central regions.
Social media footage and eyewitness accounts depicted parts of Tel Aviv plunged into darkness, raising immediate concerns about energy security in the densely populated economic hub.
Israeli authorities have yet to confirm the full extent of damage to the power grid, but initial assessments suggest disruptions to residential and commercial areas, with emergency services scrambling to restore supply.
Additional missiles targeted oil refineries, including facilities in the Haifa Bay area operated by the Bazan Group, Israel’s primary refining complex.
These strikes follow a pattern of tit-for-tat attacks in the broader regional war that intensified earlier this year, involving direct US and Israeli operations against Iranian targets.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for the operation, framing it as retaliation for recent joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian fuel depots, oil storage sites in Tehran and Alborz provinces, and other energy infrastructure.
The IRGC described the attacks as precise hits using advanced ballistic missiles, including models like the Kheibar Shekan, aimed at crippling Israel’s energy independence.
Analysts note that targeting energy facilities represents a strategic shift toward countervalue strikes, potentially aiming to impose economic and civilian costs amid the prolonged hostilities.
Power outages in Tel Aviv suburbs have compounded challenges for residents already under strain from repeated air raid sirens and shelter requirements.
Hospitals and essential services reported switching to backup generators, while traffic signals and public transportation faced intermittent failures.
The Israeli Defence Forces stated that air defence systems intercepted a significant portion of incoming projectiles, though several evaded interception and caused impacts.
No immediate casualty figures from the energy site strikes were released, but broader barrages in recent days have resulted in injuries and limited fatalities in urban areas.
This latest Iranian salvo comes against the backdrop of soaring global oil prices surpassing $100 per barrel, driven by fears of supply disruptions across the Middle East.
The conflict, which saw the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in late February and the subsequent naming of Mojtaba Khamenei as successor, has expanded to involve Gulf states and multiple fronts.
Iran has also directed strikes toward regional energy assets, including desalination plants in Gulf nations, further heightening tensions over critical infrastructure.
Experts warn that sustained attacks on power and oil facilities could lead to prolonged blackouts, fuel shortages, and secondary economic ripple effects in Israel.
Israel’s energy sector, reliant on a mix of natural gas, coal, and renewables, faces vulnerabilities in centralized generation sites like Orot Rabin.
The power station’s coastal location makes it a high-value target, but also exposes it to missile threats despite layered defences.
Restoration efforts are expected to prioritize grid stability, with officials urging conservation measures to avert cascading failures.
Iran maintains that its actions are defensive, responding to what it calls aggressive violations of its sovereignty and energy security.
Tehran has threatened further escalation if attacks on its infrastructure continue, including potential targeting of additional regional oil facilities.
The international community has called for de-escalation, with concerns mounting over the risk of a wider war disrupting global energy markets.
As night fell in the region, sporadic reports of secondary explosions and ongoing firefighting efforts at impacted sites persisted.
The strikes underscore the fragility of energy infrastructure in conflict zones, where even limited damage can produce outsized impacts on civilian life.
Both sides continue to exchange fire, with no immediate signs of negotiations emerging from the intensified cycle of retaliation.
The situation remains fluid, with military spokespersons on both sides issuing statements vowing continued resolve in defending national interests.