Tel Aviv / Khuzestan: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his military forces have targeted Iranian petrochemical refineries, calling the sector a key financial lifeline for Tehran. The move signals a strategic shift toward crippling Iran’s economic infrastructure.

In a video statement shared on his official X account, Netanyahu said the strikes follow a series of successful operations against Iran’s metallurgical industry, claiming that Israel has “destroyed 70 per cent of [Iran's] ability to create steel.” He emphasised that these operations are part of a broader campaign to weaken Iran’s economic resources. “We will continue to hit them, as I promised,” Netanyahu warned.

Precision airstrikes target key industrial hubs

Israeli fighter jets carried out precision strikes on industrial facilities in southwest Iran on Saturday, local media reported. The operations focused on high-value targets in the Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Zone, located in Khuzestan Province.

Valiollah Hayati, deputy governor of Khuzestan, told Fars news agency that three separate firms were hit, causing at least five injuries. However, the full extent of damage and potential fatalities remains uncertain.

According to The Times of Israel, the Israeli government authorized the military to escalate pressure on Tehran by targeting its economic infrastructure, marking a shift from purely military targets to strategic financial assets. Netanyahu’s administration is reportedly aiming to cripple Iran’s most lucrative export sectors, including petrochemicals and steel.

With ANI inputs