Israel Escalates To Attacking Iranian Energy Targets After Ballistic Missiles Hit Tel Aviv (Updated)

Yahoo

7 hours ago

Israel has launched a new phase of Operation Rising Lion. The campaign is designed to destroy Iran's nuclear capability and long-range weapons capacity, but now it has expanded its scope to striking at Iran's energy infrastructure. The strikes come after a warning from Israeli officials that they would do so if Iran attacked Israeli urban areas with its ballistic missiles. Following the missile attacks on Israel, Netanyahu also warned that Israeli warplanes are now able to directly access Tehran and that regime targets are on the Israeli Air Force's (IAF) list.
BREAKING: "In the very near future you will see Israeli Air Force jets over the skies of Tehran – we will strike every site and every target of the Ayatollahs' regime", Israel PM Netanyahu pic.twitter.com/RaH5AoWDJw
— OSINT Updates (@OsintUpdates) June 14, 2025
A senior Israel Defense Forces (IDF) official told The War Zone that the Israeli Air Force has attacked the South Pars gas field in Iran's southern Bushehr region. That confirms claims by the official Iranian Fars news outlet that Phase 14 of that facility was hit with an Israeli drone.
'As a result of this attack, parts of this phase have caught fire, and fire engines are currently extinguishing the fire,' Fars reported. 'The fire caused by the Zionist regime's attack on the South Pars Phase 14 refinery and Fajr Jam was contained with a quick response.' Video posted on social media showed that the plant was engulfed in flames.
"Fire breaks out at Bushehr gas refinery now."https://t.co/oIQEpz4HAF
— Evergreen Intel (@vcdgf555) June 14, 2025
In addition, there are unconfirmed reports that Israel also struck the Fajr Jam Natural Gas Refinery, and the Kangan LNG Port on the coast of the Persian Gulf, all in the Bushehr Province of Southern Iran.
Iranian state-run media has confirmed strikes recently targeted the Phase 14 Refinery of the South Pars Gas Field, the Fajr Jam Natural Gas Refinery, and the Kangan LNG Port on the coast of the Persian Gulf, all in the Bushehr Province of Southern Iran. It appears that Israel has… pic.twitter.com/vJKaFukjab
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 14, 2025
There is no indication at this point that Israel targeted the Bushehr nuclear reactor, which supplies Iran's power grid. With the proper equipment, that plant could also yield plutonium for a bomb. As we previously reported, Israel has attacked Iran's uranium enrichment site in the Natanz area, but that doesn't present nearly the level of danger that going after a live reactor would, The Jerusalem Post postulated.
'A strike on a live nuclear reactor could unleash radioactive leakage capable of endangering civilian populations hundreds of kilometers away, depending on the severity of the breach,' the publication explained.
Despite some rumors that the airstrikes may have led to a radiation leak, the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog said Friday that radiation levels outside of the Natanz uranium enrichment site remained unchanged after the airstrikes.
The attack on Iran's energy infrastructure came after Israeli officials warned they would do so if Iran continued to attack the Jewish state's urban areas. So far, Iran has launched more than 200 missiles and 200 drones at Israel, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Reports indicate that the Israeli Air Force has begun striking gas and industrial infrastructure in the Bushehr region. This shift in targeting follows prior warnings from Israeli officials, who stated last night that such action would be considered if Iran targeted urban… pic.twitter.com/5FLkpjse5N
— GMI (@Global_Mil_Info) June 14, 2025
Those attacks, in retaliation for Operation Rising Lion, have damaged a number of buildings in Tel Aviv and elsewhere.
Danish ambassador to Israel says the Tel Aviv high-rise where he resides was hit by an Iranian rocket; he was not hurt and was helped out by Israeli first responders
– 27a pic.twitter.com/D2TImP0Ffk
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) June 14, 2025
The IAF said it struck air defense targets in and around Tehran overnight to improve its freedom to operate in the skies over Iran.
'After an active day in which we struck hundreds of targets, including dozens of surface-to-air targets, we conducted a series of precise strikes of operational and national significance which improved our aerial superiority and our freedom of activity in Iran,' Commanding officer of the Israeli Air Force, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, said at a situational assessment after the strikes. 'For the first time since the beginning of the war, over 1,500 km from Israeli territory, the IAF struck defense arrays in the area of Tehran.'
IAF released a video of a strike on one of those surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems as well as an illustration showing how it opened up an air corridor through western Iran as a result of its suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses (SEAD/DEAD) operations. The strikes have already already destroyed 'dozens of radars and surface-to-air missile launchers,' according to the IAF.
תיעוד מתקיפת משגרי טילי קרקע-קרקע בטהראן: pic.twitter.com/bCJUhPbSV1
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) June 14, 2025
Israeli officials believe Iran has at least 2,000 long-range ballistic missiles it could use in future attacks, according to Fox News Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst.
'Israeli intelligence projected that Iran would have an arsenal of 8,000 ballistic missiles over the next two years,' Yingst said on X. 'This was part of the reason a decision was made to launch the operation.'
Spoke with a Senior Israeli Intelligence Official who provided new details about the operation targeting Iran.Israel believes Iran currently has about 2,000 missiles, but Israeli intelligence projected that Iran would have an arsenal of 8,000 ballistic missiles over the next…
— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) June 14, 2025
As we noted in our previous coverage, Israel's Mossad reportedly conducted a daring ground operation inside Iran at the start of Operation Rising Lion. Its operatives launched one-way attack drones and loitering anti-armor munitions at critical military targets — especially air defense ones. Among them was an air defense site near Tehran, striking surface-to-air missile launchers there, clearing the way for the larger strike.
Speaking of that operation, Iranian officials released what they claimed was a truck with containers in the back used to launch some of those drones.
באיראן מדווחים שכוחות הביטחון האיראניים תפסו משאית ששימשה לטענתם לשיגור כטב"מים עוינים מתוך שטח איראן. pic.twitter.com/PHnSPxM9Hk
— כל החדשות בזמן אמת (@Saher_News_24_7) June 14, 2025
The Iranian Interior Ministry said that the movement of pickups and roomy trucks without permits are no longer permitted to enter the country.
NEW: Iran Ministry of Interior: The movement of pickup trucks and roomy trucks without permits is prohibited in the country.Iran is trying to find them drone launchers pic.twitter.com/w5fCKtny5X
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) June 14, 2025
In the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Iran, the debris of what appears to be a one-way attack drone was reportedly found. You can see images of one of those discoveries below.
Remains of Israeli drones or cruise missiles found after Israeli attacks in Iran. pic.twitter.com/pMqHxqlXm8
— Mehdi H. (@mhmiranusa) June 14, 2025
After the launch of Operation Rising Lion, Iran's supreme leader wanted to strike back with an assault of 1,000 missiles. However, Iranian complacency before the attack and indecision after, reportedly, made that impossible to pull off.
The initial plan was to launch that barrage and 'overwhelm its air defense and ensure maximum damage,' two members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) told The New York Times. 'But Israel's strikes on missile bases had made it impossible to move missiles quickly from storage and place them on launchpads, they added.'
Leaders in Tehran were anticipating an Israeli attack, but not before the conclusions of talks aimed at reigning in Iran's nuclear ambitions.
'Officials said that the night of Israel's attack, senior military commanders did not shelter in safe houses and instead stayed in their own homes, a fateful decision,' according to the publication. 'Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards' aerospace unit, and his senior staff ignored a directive against congregating in one location. They held an emergency war meeting at a military base in Tehran and were killed when Israel struck the base.'
By Friday evening, 'the government was just beginning to grasp the extent of damage from Israel's military campaign that began in the early hours of the day and struck at least 15 locations across Iran, including in Isfahan, Tabriz, Ilam, Lorestan, Borujerd, Qom, Arak, Urmia, Ghasre Shirin, Kermanshah, Hamedan and Shiraz,' four Iranian officials told the publication.
'Israel had taken out much of Iran's defense capability, destroying radars and air defenses; crippled its access to its arsenal of ballistic missiles; and wiped out senior figures in the military chain of command,' the Times explained. 'In addition, the aboveground part of a major nuclear enrichment plant at Natanz was severely damaged.'
NYT: Iran's original plan was to fire 1000 missiles at Israel. Disruptions by Israeli strikes led to a reduction in numbers.https://t.co/XDqhcKCdEG pic.twitter.com/aAWxAomyZl
— Fabian Hinz (@fab_hinz) June 14, 2025
U.S. military assets have been used to help defend Israel during Iran's retaliatory missile and drone barrage, a U.S. official and a senior IDF official confirmed to The War Zone.
'I can confirm that the U.S. is assisting in shooting down missiles targeting Israel,' the U.S. official told us. 'U.S. Navy Aegis ships and THAAD [Terminal High Altitude Area Defense] units as well as some U.S. jets, were part of the anti-missile combat to try and intercept as many Iranian missiles and UAVs as possible,' the senior IDF official told us.
A U.S. official on Thursday told TWZ that the U.S. Navy's Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Thomas Hudner was heading east across the Mediterranean in the direction of Israel. Additional reports had said that another destroyer of this type was also being repositioned for a potential forward deployment to the region if necessary. Both are designed to provide air and missile defense.
The comments from the U.S. and IDF officials confirm earlier media reporting of how American assets and personnel are being used to help defend Israel against Iran.
Saturday morning, The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran has launched 200 ballistic missiles and 200 drones at Israel and that the 'U.S. military is operating in the air, on land and at sea to shoot down Iranian missiles fired at Israel…'
'Before the retaliatory strikes even began, U.S. jet fighters, Navy destroyers and ground-based air-defense systems had positioned to help counter any attack,' the Journal added.
In addition, U.S. Army Patriot surface-to-air missile systems and THAAD missile defense systems helped shoot down incoming Iranian ballistic missiles as well, Fox News has reported.
The U.S. Army is assisting in shooting down incoming Iranian missiles with Patriot Pac-3 missiles and with Thaad, officials tell Fox's @LucasFoxNews
— Liz Friden (@Liz_Friden) June 13, 2025
'The Pentagon is still waiting for a battlefield assessment to determine how many projectiles the U.S. intercepted,' U.S. officials told the Journal. 'A number of overnight impacts were reported around the Tel Aviv area, causing three deaths and property damage.'
This is not the first time the U.S. has used its assets and personnel to defend Israel against Iran.
During an Iranian attack on Israel in April 2024, U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles also helped swat down Iranian drones. Meanwhile, Arleigh Burke class destroyers are among the assets the U.S. military has used to defend Israel from previous Iranian attacks in the past year or so, as well as THAADs and Patriots. The U.S. Army's first combat use of the THAAD system came last December, to interdict a medium-range ballistic missile fired at Israel by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen.
Amid the ongoing Israeli attacks, senior Iranian leaders appear to be fleeing the country, Netanyahu claimed.
'We have indications that senior leaders in Iran are packing their bags, they know what's coming… We knew that had we not acted, Iran would've given nukes to its terror proxies,' he said.
Netanyahu: We have indications that senior leaders in Iran are packing their bags, they know what's coming… We knew that had we not acted, Iran would've given nukes to its terror proxies. pic.twitter.com/jMogf41DoT
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) June 14, 2025
While we cannot confirm that, flight trackers reported a bizarre instance of an Iranian Boeing 747 departed from Tehran today. This would appear to be a very risky move considering a major airpower is in the middle of an air campaign focused on sanitizing the airspace and air defenses. Exactly where this flight went is not clear, but this 747 in particular is well known for running weapons and doing other risky government work.
"LEEEROY JENKINS!" Boeing 747 just departed Tehran pic.twitter.com/hjYspBABFB
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) June 14, 2025Iran has launched another wave of ballistic missile strikes on Israel, targeting the northern end of the country, particularly Haifa. The IDF said it was working to intercept them, but a substantial number of the missiles made it to the ground.
Incoming ballistic missiles and interceptions seen over Northern Israel. pic.twitter.com/fr3h6B14xH
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 14, 2025
Exoatmospheric and other interceptions filmed over Haifa in Northern Israel. pic.twitter.com/UmvrYFziyL
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 14, 2025
A large barrage of ballistic missiles launched by Iran come down over Northern Israel, with a number of interceptions and impacts seen near Haifa. pic.twitter.com/iygcAxAL6v
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 14, 2025
Iranian missiles on Haifa. pic.twitter.com/FtyDMoHQr3
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 14, 2025
Situation in Haifa pic.twitter.com/P6w5J2b6oO
— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) June 14, 2025
Reports of a direct impact from an Iranian ballistic missile on a residential neighborhood in the Arab city of Tamra to the east of Haifa, with multiple injuries, including several serious. pic.twitter.com/UhfQ5oy9Ck
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 14, 2025
There are reports that an oil refinery in Haifa may have been hit, which is in line with Iranian threats to expand its target list to include Israel's oil and natural gas infrastructure.
A fire and smoke can be seen rising from the Haifa Oil Refinery in Northern Israel, following a possible impact from a ballistic missile fired by Iran. pic.twitter.com/VjuMfYpHgR
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 14, 2025
Israel's Haifa is burning. pic.twitter.com/rJdAJtxRSH
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 14, 2025
Israel has also carried out another wave of strikes in Iran, including around Tehran. Israeli forces were reportedly in the process of carrying out their missions while the Iranian missiles were inbound.
While the IDF is operating to intercept missiles launched from Iran, the IAF is currently striking military targets in Tehran.
— LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) June 14, 2025
Additional footage showing oil refineries and depots burning tonight in the Iranian capital of Tehran. pic.twitter.com/lLKsCevgbj
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 14, 2025
Oil depot in Tehran is burning. pic.twitter.com/4Y2Jiys7HL
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 14, 2025
NOW: Tehran.Israel hit oil depots. pic.twitter.com/cvIDpQwzep
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 14, 2025
Israel has also conducted a new strike against Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen, with military chief of staff Muhammad Al-Ghamari being the reported target.
The target of the Israeli strike in Yemen was Houthi military chief of staff Muhammad Al-Ghamari, according to Israeli officials.The results of the strike are unknown, and the IDF has not yet officially commented. https://t.co/TomxkXILFx
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 14, 2025
Israeli media has reported that U.S. President Donald Trump has told his Israeli counterpart, Netanyahu, that he would consider using American forces to strike Iran's Fordo nuclear enrichment facility if that was what was necessary to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Fordo is a deeply buried target that would be very challenging for Israel to reach with the conventional weapons it is known to possess.
'Trecently told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US would consider striking Iran's underground Fordo nuclear facility if such a move would become necessary to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon' a/c to ⁦@BarakRavid⁩ https://t.co/AxQZud3zD1
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj) June 14, 2025
Ground level view shows the speed of these incoming ballistics in terminal phase. pic.twitter.com/sFIJ0jg4vG
— Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) June 14, 2025Israel states that F-35Is were present over Tehran for two hours today and struck multiple targets. They are clearly working their way to achieving air dominance over the entire country, including target sites in Iran's east, which could drastically expand tactical possibilities. As we noted when this started, once the IAF controls the skies, it will be very hard for Iran to regain air sovereignty of any kind. As such, reconstituting any of their nuclear or missile program will be nearly impossible as Israel will destroy them with ease from the air. In other words, this access is unlikely to be temporary and this is by design.
According to the WSJ, Israel says Iran's top leadership, including Khamenei, are not off limits.
Israeli official says targeting Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is 'not off limits'Source: WSJ pic.twitter.com/WVeQsYpsO7
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 14, 2025
Israelis are hiding in tunnels as the incoming ballistic missile threat looms large.
In Haifa, people were hiding from the bombing in a tunnelIran used at least one hypersonic missile to strike the city, according to media reports. pic.twitter.com/pn8lwYLhBB
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) June 14, 2025Another barrage of ballistic missiles has impacted Israel. We appear to be seeing faster, larger, more cable TBMs mixed in with these barrages. These are harder to intercept, especially during a saturation attack.
Insane footage showing the impact of an Iranian ballistic missile earlier in Tel-Aviv, Central Israel. pic.twitter.com/9ETet7lgQ4
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 15, 2025
Footage of in Iranian missile slamming right into a building in southern #TelAviv tonight as missiles fly all over #Israel
for the second night in a row. pic.twitter.com/NVdn967hAu
— Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) June 15, 2025
Damage seen from the inside of the high-rise building struck earlier in Bat Yam, to the south of Tel-Aviv. pic.twitter.com/KtDIynGwtD
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 15, 2025
Footage from one of the ballistic missile impact sites in Tel-Aviv, with serious damage seen to several nearby residential buildings. pic.twitter.com/HWK5IJa4SB
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 15, 2025
Aftermath of a ballistic missile impact in Israel.Everything is ash. pic.twitter.com/cD5ooSzaXD
— 𝗡𝗶𝗼𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗴 ♛
︎ (@NiohBerg) June 15, 2025
The Iranian regime wants to destroy Israel.And now it's trying to rain armageddon on Israeli cities to protect its nuclear weapons project. This is a building that just got hit by an Iranian missile. pic.twitter.com/DntFbrJhZP
— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) June 15, 2025
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