Joint air strikes by the United States and Israel targeted fuel storage facilities and an oil processing center in Tehran and Alborz province, triggering massive fires and thick plumes of smoke. Iran's oil distribution company reported that four of its employees were killed in the attack.

The strikes hit the Aghdasieh oil warehouse in northeast Tehran, the Tehran refinery in the south, the Shahran oil depot in the west, and an oil depot in the city of Karaj. Witnesses stated that oil from the Shahran depot had leaked into nearby streets, exacerbating the environmental and safety hazards.

Israeli authorities claimed the facilities were used "to operate military infrastructure" and justified the strikes as part of their strategic plan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video statement, asserted that his government would press on with the assault and strike Iran's leadership "without mercy," adding that they have "an organized plan with many surprises to destabilize the regime and enable change."

The joint US-Israeli attacks have continued for a ninth day, resulting in over 1,300 deaths in Iran, about 300 in Lebanon, and approximately a dozen in Israel, according to official figures. These events appear to mark a new phase in the conflict, potentially leading to further regional escalation and heightened geopolitical tensions.

Source: www.aljazeera.com