Israeli media report that the Bazan oil refinery in the northern city of Haifa has been hit in a missile barrage, allegedly launched from Iran or Lebanon. A fire broke out at the facility, with large plumes of black smoke visible over the area. This marks the second attack on the refinery since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began last month, now entering its fifth week with no signs of abating.
Fire commander Eitan Rifa stated that the incident has been fully contained, with no casualties, hazardous material risks, or danger to the public. Bazan Group, the company operating the refinery, also confirmed no injuries, describing it as a missile strike on the roof of a distillates tank. The attack underscores the ongoing regional escalation, as Iran and its allies, including the Lebanese group Hezbollah, continue to target what they claim are U.S. and Israeli assets across the Middle East.
In response, the Israeli military has intensified its assault on Lebanon, expanding a ground invasion that began on March 2 after Hezbollah launched rockets in retaliation for the U.S.-Israeli assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The Israeli regime has issued mass forced displacement orders across southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut, displacing over 1.2 million people. On Monday, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported an Israeli airstrike on the town of Barashit in southern Lebanon, killing one person and wounding another, while a separate attack on a military checkpoint killed a soldier.
Security affairs analyst Ali Rizk warned that Lebanon could become a deeper front in the conflict, as Israeli leaders such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have promised to expand the ground offensive. He suggested that the U.S. regime is likely on board or does not oppose Israeli escalation in Lebanon. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, more than 1,200 people have been killed in Israeli attacks across Lebanon since the escalation began earlier this month, highlighting the severe humanitarian toll of the ongoing hostilities.
Source: www.aljazeera.com