Iran Missile Strikes Cause Extensive Damage to Haifa Oil Refinery, Israel Admits
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, recent documents published by Israel’s Ministry of Interior, as reported by Russia Today via the Mehr News Agency, indicate that the damage sustained by the Haifa oil refining complex from Iranian missile attacks is significantly greater than initially claimed. The report highlights that critical infrastructure at the facility has been impacted, disrupting fuel supply chains and projecting reconstruction timelines extending to 2028.
The new documents, released on Monday as part of the approval process for reconstruction plans, reveal the extensive scope of destruction caused by Iranian missile strikes on the oil refinery in the Persian Gulf port of Haifa. These documents expose damage to strategic buildings and facilities that had not been previously disclosed.
These official records challenge earlier statements made by Israel’s Energy Minister, Eli Cohen, who had asserted that the damage to the complex would not affect fuel supply.
The documents indicate that the substantial damage has directly impacted the capacity to produce and distribute gasoline, compromising the ability to meet market demands for fuel.
Reports suggest that the BAZAN company complex in Haifa, a key energy and petrochemical hub in Israel, was targeted by missile attacks in June and during a joint US-Israeli operation against Iran.
In the June attack, damage to the complex’s power station led to the shutdown of all refining facilities. At the time, the operating company estimated the damages to be between $150 million and $200 million.
According to the latest documents, the destruction includes damage to gas turbines, boilers, electrical rooms, and auxiliary systems within the complex. Iranian missile attacks have also reportedly led to the complete destruction of a petroleum derivatives storage tank.
The document explicitly states that the damaged tank, affected by a March attack, is ‘irreparable’ and requires the construction of a completely new tank with a capacity of 12,700 cubic meters. This situation directly reduces storage capacity and the ability to produce high-quality gasoline.
