Israel Launches Extensive Strikes on Iranian Gas Infrastructure: New Details and Political Context
On the night of June 14-15, Israel intensified its operations targeting Iranian gas industry facilities, employing drones to attack several strategically important sites. According to sources in local and international media, including reports from Israeli and Iranian agencies, these strikes are among the most significant in recent years within this conflict, with the potential to seriously impact Iran's energy sector. Based on information disseminated by Haaretz and confirmed by Iranian diplomatic sources, Israeli drones attacked at least two key facilities belonging to Iran’s gas sector. The most notable target was one of the world's largest natural gas fields – South Pars. This giant field, whose reserves provide energy resources to regional countries for hundreds of years, is now under threat of destruction or severe damage. Official Iranian sources reported that early in the morning, a powerful explosion occurred at the site, causing a large fire. They stated that the response was swift: the fire was extinguished, but the extent of damage to the facility remains unknown. Representatives of Iran’s Ministry of Oil confirmed that the attack affected parts of the infrastructure within the South Pars field responsible for LNG production and other gas processing products. According to official officials, the attack specifically targeted the 14th development phase of the field, which holds strategic importance for Iran’s gas industry. In addition, Iranian media, including agencies Fars and Tasnim, reported that another drone strike targeted a facility near the city of Bandar Abbas – Iran’s main port hub. Close to this location is a large gas infrastructure node that ensures export of products to international markets. Although details about the motives behind this secondary attack have not yet been disclosed, reports indicate an escalation of Israel’s tactics in its fight against Iran’s gas industry. Israeli officials have not yet officially confirmed their involvement in these operations. However, a high-ranking military source, speaking anonymously, noted that these strikes serve both demonstrative and deterrent purposes for Tehran. According to him, this “signal” attack demonstrates Israel’s capability to strike vital targets in the region and at strategic locations. Officially, Israeli authorities maintain the right not to confirm any operations, but experts are already discussing the possibility that this marks the beginning of a new phase of heightened tensions between the countries. It is emphasized that Iran’s air defense systems are generally capable of intercepting such attacks. However, the use of drones and the precision of strikes pose new challenges for protecting critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, the international community is growing increasingly concerned about escalating regional tensions, which could lead to larger conflicts in the fields of energy security and geopolitical stability. According to our sources, this series of strikes can be viewed as part of a broader new strategy by Israeli intelligence agencies aimed at neutralizing Iran’s energy ambitions and military-technical potential, especially considering Iran’s nuclear programs and regional competition for dominance. In any case, this event highlights that the conflict over control of vital energy infrastructure is far from resolved and could have far-reaching consequences for the region and global security.