Iran media reports ‘massive explosion’ after Israeli drone strike on refinery

TEHRAN: Iranian media reported a “massive explosion” on Saturday following an Israeli drone strike on the South Pars refinery in the southern port city of Kangan.

“An hour ago, an Israeli drone hit one of the South Pars Phase 14 refineries, causing a massive explosion and fire in the refinery,” the Tasnim news agency said, while the Fars agency reported firefighters were working to extinguish a blaze that had erupted as a result of the attack.

Israel also killed three more Iranian nuclear scientists, state television reported Earlier in the day, bringing to nine the overall number slain in Israel’s attack on the Islamic republic.

“Three of the country’s nuclear scientists — Ali Bekaei Karimi, Mansour Asgari, and Saeed Borji — were martyred during the Zionist regime’s terrorist attacks,” the broadcaster said. Iranian media had said earlier that six others were killed in the Israeli attack.

Also Read: Damage to Iranian nuclear sites so far appears limited

The Air Defence Force of Iran’s Army has also claimed it successfully shot down two Israeli F-35 fighter jets along with a large number of Israeli micro air vehicles (MAVs).

The status of the pilots remains unknown and is under investigation, according to Iranian state-run news agency IRNA.

In a major retaliation to recent Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities, the Iranian Army stated it had launched successful attacks on Israeli targets within the occupied Israeli territories early Saturday.

According to the Army, Arash suicide drones were used to penetrate deep into Israeli territory, striking several key positions.

Meanwhile, Israeli media confirmed that Iran had launched a fifth wave of missile attacks, targeting areas such as Tiberias, the occupied Golan Heights, and Lower Galilee.

These developments come after Israel reportedly carried out overnight strikes on Friday in and around Tehran, including residential areas, marking a sharp escalation in hostilities.