A Hezbollah rocket strikes an oil refinery in Haifa, triggering fire and smoke, as tensions intensify in the ongoing Israel-Lebanon conflict.
An oil refinery in the northern Israeli city of Haifa was struck by a rocket fired from Lebanon on Monday, Israeli authorities confirmed, in what marks a fresh escalation in the ongoing conflict.
The strike triggered a fire at the facility, with a large plume of black smoke seen rising above an industrial structure within the refinery complex.
Israel’s Fire and Rescue Services said there was no leakage of hazardous materials following the incident, easing immediate fears of environmental contamination.
Local media reports indicated that the rocket hit an oil tanker and an industrial installation inside the refinery complex.
The Israeli military said approximately 10 rockets were launched by Hezbollah before noon, activating warning sirens across the Haifa area and parts of central Israel’s coastline.
Authorities also reported impacts and damage in Shfaram in the Galilee and in Kiryat Ata near Haifa, where the attack caused temporary power outages.
The latest strike marks the second direct hit on the Haifa oil refinery complex during the ongoing month-long Middle East conflict.
On March 19, a missile reportedly fired from Iran struck the same complex, causing damage and heightening security concerns around critical energy infrastructure in northern Israel.
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