Iran attacked Israel's largest fuel facility - the Haifa Refinery. After the missile attack, multiple areas in the city of Haifa experienced power outages. The Haifa Refinery meets about 50-60% of Israel's fuel needs. Israel has only two refineries in total.
The attack caused power outages in Haifa and surrounding areas, with damage to the power grid. More importantly, the plant supplies about 80% of Israel's military aviation fuel, and its damage could affect the Israeli Air Force's ability to sustain operations.
The effects of the attack quickly spread, causing a sharp increase in risk premiums in global energy markets. Oil prices surged, with Brent crude futures reaching as high as $119 per barrel, and natural gas prices also fluctuated significantly.
This attack is part of Iran's large-scale strikes on Gulf energy facilities. Multiple countries' facilities were attacked, including Qatar's largest LNG facility, Saudi Arabia's Red Sea refinery, and two refineries in Kuwait, increasing concerns about supply disruptions.
Iran took a hard stance: the foreign minister warned that if infrastructure was attacked again, it would "no longer show any restraint."
The attack event has increased the tactical differences between the US and Israel. US media tends to favor a quick resolution to control economic impact, while Israel insists on seeking regime change in Iran, leading to a rift in their operational objectives.
War has shifted from military confrontation to a full-scale "infrastructure war." Both sides have expanded their targets from military bases to oil refineries, power plants, and gas fields, which are vital to people's livelihoods and the economy. This tactic aims to paralyze the enemy's war potential, but it also significantly increases the long-term nature and brutality of the conflict, raising the risk of spillover effects.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860136144494720/
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