Israel Strikes Iran: Fuel Depots Hit, Environmental Disaster Looms | Al Jazeera News

Israeli Strikes on Iranian Fuel Sites Trigger Environmental and Humanitarian Crisis

Israeli strikes on fuel depots and petroleum logistic sites in Tehran on Sunday resulted in apocalyptic scenes, with ignited oil creating a river of fire and thick black smoke blanketing the city of 10 million. Streets and vehicles were coated in soot following the attacks, which targeted key infrastructure in the Iranian capital.

Israel and the United States stated they were targeting Iranian military and government sites. Yet, reports from the ground suggest civilian structures, including schools, hospitals, and landmarks, are increasingly coming under attack. Details were not provided regarding the specific extent of damage to civilian infrastructure.

What Israeli and US military planners frame as a calculated degradation of state infrastructure is being described by local officials and environmental experts as an act of total warfare and collective punishment. The attacks are raising concerns about the long-term environmental and health consequences for the Iranian population.

Toxic Rainfall and Health Risks

Shina Ansari, head of Iran’s Department of Environment, described the systematic destruction of the oil depots as a blatant act of ecocide. The incineration of vast fuel reserves has trapped Tehran under a suffocating shroud of pollutants.

The medical and environmental fallout is immediate and severe. The Iranian Red Crescent Society warned that the smoke contains high concentrations of toxic hydrocarbons, sulphur, and nitrogen oxides. The organization noted that any rainfall passing through these plumes becomes highly acidic, posing risks of skin burns and severe lung damage upon contact or inhalation. Residents reported “black rain” falling dozens of miles from the affected sites.

Ali Jafarian, Iran’s deputy health minister, told Al Jazeera that this acid rain is already contaminating the soil and water supply. Jafarian added that the toxic air poses a life-threatening risk to the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions, prompting authorities to advise residents to remain indoors.

The destruction has too forced the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum to slash daily fuel rations for civilians from 30 litres to 20 litres. At least four employees, including two tanker drivers, were killed in the depot strikes.

The Strategic Rationale and its Critics

Major General Mamoun Abu Nowar, a retired Jordanian military analyst, told Al Jazeera that the primary objective of the strikes is to break the resilience of the Iranian people and paralyse the country’s logistics and economy. “They are preparing the Iranian environment for an uprising against the regime,” Abu Nowar said, adding that the broader goal is to halt state operations and curb Tehran’s regional influence.

Some military strategists argue that striking an adversary’s vital infrastructure can paralyse the state, bypassing the need for direct military confrontation. However, Raphael S Cohen, director of the Strategy and Doctrine Program at the RAND Corporation, notes that such bombing campaigns consistently fail to achieve their primary goal of breaking a population’s will. Instead, Cohen argues, strategic bombing typically produces a rally-around-the-flag effect, unifying societies against a common foe.

Adel Shadid, a researcher in Israeli affairs, told Al Jazeera Arabic that the strategy is designed to make life hell for ordinary Iranians in hopes of sparking an uprising. Shadid noted a contradiction in the rhetoric of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claims to support the Iranian people even as overseeing the destruction of their basic means of survival.

Historical Precedents and Environmental Consequences

The reality of targeting oil infrastructure rarely aligns with military theory, as history demonstrates such tactics reliably produce devastating, long-term environmental consequences. During the 1991 Gulf War, the torching of Kuwaiti oil wells created a regional environmental catastrophe. Similarly, during the battle against ISIL (ISIS) in Iraq, the burning of the Qayyarah oil fields created a “Daesh Winter” that blocked out the sun for months.

These incidents released vast quantities of toxic residues, including sulphur dioxide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, causing severe respiratory illnesses, soil acidification, and long-term carcinogenic risks for the local population.

Escalation and Regional Impact

The attacks on Iranian fuel depots have triggered a cycle of retaliation. Mokhtar Haddad, director of the Al-Wefaq newspaper, told Al Jazeera Arabic that the targeting of energy hubs could trigger a global energy war. According to Al Jazeera’s Sohaib al-Assa, reporting from Tehran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has already retaliated by striking the Haifa oil refinery and targeting a US base in Kuwait, signalling that the conflict is expanding beyond military targets.

On Monday, Bahrain’s state-run oil company Bapco declared force majeure after waves of Iranian strikes targeted its energy installations. Iran has also been accused of targeting energy facilities in other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Confirmed vs. Unclear

Confirmed: Israeli strikes targeted fuel depots and refineries in Tehran on Sunday, resulting in fires and widespread pollution. The Iranian Red Crescent has warned of the dangers of toxic rainfall. Fuel rations have been reduced for civilians. Retaliatory strikes by the IRGC have been reported.

Unclear: The full extent of damage to civilian infrastructure remains unclear. The specific types of munitions used in the strikes have not been independently confirmed. The long-term environmental and health consequences are still being assessed. The ultimate strategic goals of the strikes, beyond the stated aim of degrading Iranian infrastructure, remain a subject of debate.