Israel could target revenge attacks on Iranian oil refineries | Israel

Israel may target Iranian oil refineries in retaliation for Tuesday night's attack in which Tehran fired an estimated 180 ballistic missiles at Tel Aviv and other targets across the country, leading to a dramatic escalation in the conflict between the two countries.

US website Axios has reported that Israeli officials are considering a “significant retaliation” for the Iranian attack within days, which could target oil production facilities in Iran and other strategic locations.

Israeli officials are believed to be consulting with the US about coordinating its military response, which could bring the Middle East closer to the brink of regional war.

Analysts have also suggested that Israel could target facilities in Iran's nuclear program, although the US may want to rule out that option as it would likely further escalate the conflict.

“This attack will have serious consequences, and we will work with Israel to make this happen,” U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday evening, adding that the U.S. “would be conducting ongoing consultations with the Israelis this afternoon “. and tonight.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a security cabinet meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss a military response to the attack. According to Axios, Israeli officials agreed in principle to retaliate, but were required to consult with U.S. officials about U.S. Central Command's defense cooperation as well as ammunition shipments and other operational support.

“Iran made a big mistake tonight — and it will pay for it,” Netanyahu said late Tuesday at a meeting of his security cabinet. “The regime in Iran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and our determination to retaliate against our enemies… They will understand.”

US lawmakers have backed a strike against Iranian oil production. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said he would “call on the Biden administration to coordinate an overwhelming response with Israel, starting with Iran's ability to process oil.” In a statement, he said Iran's oil refineries needed to be “hit hard.”

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Wednesday that it would send additional troops to take part in ground attacks in southern Lebanon in the largest operation in that country since the 2006 war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah.

In a message posted on Telegram, the IDF said it would send the 36th Division, including troops from three brigades, to join the “limited, localized, targeted attacks on Hezbollah terrorist targets and terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon that began on Monday.” “.

“The soldiers will be accompanied by the IAF and 282 Artillery Brigade,” the announcement said.

Israeli media reported that around 100 rockets had been fired at Israel from Lebanon so far on Wednesday, while there were reports of the first direct clashes between Israeli ground forces and Hezbollah.

So far, Israel has only used the 98th Division for attacks in southern Lebanon, making the operation far smaller than the military's incursions into Gaza. The recent Israeli deployment suggests that Israel may increase its deployment there.

Israel continued to launch airstrikes on targets in Beirut overnight and photos showed smoke rising over the city at dawn. Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip also killed at least 60 Palestinians overnight, including at a school housing displaced families, medics at the scene said.

IDF spokesmen overnight issued new warnings to residents of villages in southern Lebanon and some residents of Beirut's suburbs to evacuate, saying their homes were under attack because they were near alleged Hezbollah facilities.

The Iranian missile salvo targeted several Israeli air bases, but few casualties were reported in the attack. One person – a Palestinian from near the West Bank city of Jericho – was reportedly killed on Tuesday evening when shrapnel from an Iranian missile fired struck him as he crossed an intersection. Two other people were reported injured.

Most of the Iranian missiles appeared to have been intercepted by Israeli and U.S. air defenses, and Tehran appeared to have targeted several military bases, meaning the missiles mostly fell outside densely populated areas.

Guardian reporters in Jerusalem witnessed dozens of rockets flying toward Israel's main coastal cities in a massive attack just after 7:30 p.m., with the rockets' engines clearly visible from below.

Air sirens wailed across Israel as the rockets, many of which were intercepted by Israeli air defenses, streaked across the night sky in red and gold trails. Some rockets that were still intact appeared to continue flying toward the coast and central Israel amid the sound of distant explosions.

In the early hours of Wednesday, at least five Israeli strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs after the Israeli military issued several evacuation orders for buildings in the city, saying they were targeting Hezbollah sites.

Minutes before Iran began the attack, at least two gunmen launched an attack in the Israeli coastal city of Jaffa, killing six people and wounding 10, including an IDF soldier.