What Happened After the Iranian Strike on Israel's Largest Oil Refinery?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Bazan has completely shut down operations at its oil refinery.
- The Iranian missile strike caused three fatalities among employees.
- The attack has led to significant destruction at the Haifa Port facility.
- The conflict has resulted in casualties on both sides, escalating tensions in the region.
- Local authorities are responding to the aftermath of the missile strikes.
Jerusalem, June 17 (NationPress) Bazan, the largest oil refinery company in Israel, has officially reported that all operations at its facilities located at Haifa Port have been entirely halted following significant damage from an Iranian missile strike.
The pre-dawn assault on Monday night tragically resulted in the deaths of three employees and sparked extensive fires within this critical complex. Footage captured by bystanders displayed intense flames, and firefighting crews continued to battle the blaze, as reported by Xinhua news agency citing the Israeli daily Ha'aretz.
The company communicated in a statement to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange that, “The power station responsible for part of the steam and electricity production used by the group's facilities has suffered substantial damage, along with other impacts.”
They further stated, “At this moment, all refinery and subsidiary facilities have been shut down.”
Bazan is currently evaluating the full extent of the damage and its implications for ongoing operations, as well as developing a strategy to address the crisis.
This attack from Iran coincides with a four-day period of intense aerial conflict between the Islamic Republic and Israel, resulting in the deaths of at least 244 individuals in Iran and 24 in Israel. The escalation was initiated by surprise airstrikes conducted by Israel across Iran on Friday.
On Monday, Iran executed another missile assault on Israel, leading to the deaths of at least eight people and injuring numerous others, according to Israeli officials, as the conflict, ignited by the Israeli surprise attack, escalated.
The missile strikes triggered air raid sirens throughout Israel. Eyewitnesses reported seeing plumes of black smoke rising over Haifa, a significant coastal city in northern Israel, along with multiple explosions reported in both northern and central regions of the nation.
Local officials confirmed casualties in various locations. In Petah Tikva, a city east of Tel Aviv, four individuals lost their lives when a missile impacted a residential building. Mayor Rami Greenberg indicated that hundreds of residents from the damaged structure and three nearby buildings were evacuated. Images from the scene revealed multi-story buildings suffering extensive blast damage and debris scattered across the area.