Iranian missiles have struck an oil refinery in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, causing a fire and raising fears of further escalation in the ongoing conflict with Israel. On March 19, 2026, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a barrage of missiles targeting Israel’s energy and military sites.
One of the missiles hit the Bazan oil refinery (also known as Oil Refineries Ltd) in Haifa, Israel’s third-largest city and a major industrial port. Thick black smoke was seen rising from the facility, and local reports confirmed that a fire broke out after the impact.
Israel’s Energy Ministry stated that the strike caused some damage to the electrical infrastructure and nearby areas, but there was no significant damage to the main production units. The refinery, which produces about half of Israel’s domestic fuel supply, continued most of its operations, and the rest were being restarted quickly. No major casualties were reported from this specific strike.
This is not the first time Haifa’s refinery has been targeted. A similar Iranian missile attack occurred in June 2025, which caused more serious disruption. Iranian officials claimed the recent strikes were precise and hit their intended targets, including refineries in Haifa and Ashdod.
The attack has added to global concerns about energy security. Any major damage to Israeli refineries could affect fuel supplies in the region and push international oil prices even higher.
The situation remains tense as both sides continue military operations.
