Iran struck Israel's largest oil refinery in Haifa and targeted multiple energy facilities across the Persian Gulf on March 19, marking a severe escalation in its conflict with the United States and Israel.
Local media and preliminary assessments indicate that a cluster munition, launched during the latest wave of attacks by Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah, hit the Bazan refinery in Haifa. The strike caused immediate power outages across several areas of Haifa and neighboring Kiryat Haim. Israel acknowledged the hit, though the energy minister claimed the damage to the power grid was localized and not significant.
The Haifa facility is Israel's most critical fuel hub, processing approximately 197,000 barrels per day. It supplies roughly 50 to 60 percent of the country's fuel, including diesel and gasoline, meaning a large share of Israel's military, aviation, and civilian transport depends on it. Israel currently operates only two oil refineries.
The attack on Israel coincided with a broader regional assault. Gulf states reported multiple drone strikes on their energy sectors, fulfilling an earlier threat where Iran vowed to destroy the energy infrastructure of Gulf countries in response to an Israeli strike on Iran's South Pars gas field a day earlier.
An oil industry source reported a drone strike on the SAMREF refinery in Saudi Arabia, a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and ExxonMobil. The facility processes about 400,000 barrels of oil daily and is one of the kingdom's key export-oriented refineries.
In Kuwait, the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation reported a minor fire after a drone struck an operational unit at the Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery.
Simultaneously, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) stated that a projectile hit a vessel near Ras Laffan, Qatar's primary liquefied natural gas industrial complex. Qatari authorities confirmed the industrial zone came under a new Iranian ballistic missile attack, causing damage and fires. The Qatari Interior Ministry later reported that all fires at the Ras Laffan facilities were brought under control.
On March 18, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued evacuation warnings for oil facilities in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, including SAMREF, citing the Israeli strike on South Pars. Later that evening, Iran launched its first missile strike on Ras Laffan, targeting vital QatarEnergy infrastructure.
Riyadh has urged Tehran to halt its attacks on neighboring states. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan warned that Iran's actions would have consequences, speaking after talks with Arab and Muslim foreign ministers in Riyadh.
Since the start of a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran on February 28, Iranian forces have repeatedly targeted Saudi Arabia and Gulf states with missiles and drones. According to local authorities, these strikes have hit residential areas, civilian infrastructure, airports, and diplomatic missions alongside oil facilities.
Following the initial March 18 attack on QatarEnergy, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Tehran that in the event of another attack, "the U.S., with or without Israel's help, will destroy the entire South Pars field with such force and power that Iran has never seen before."