‘The road to Tehran is open’: Israel pounds Iranian gas fields, broadening historic military campaign

Israel reportedly warned Iran days ago that any strike on civilians, such as those on Friday in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, would prompt the Jewish state to target Tehran’s oil infrastructure.

By Adam Kredo, The Washington Free Beacon

Israel bombed key Iranian gas fields and oil refineries, which Tehran uses to generate over $50 billion a year—hundreds of millions of which it uses to fund terror groups—in a fresh wave of airstrikes that destroyed more than “150 targets and over 400 separate assets,” according to the Israel Defense Forces and Iranian media.

Israeli warplanes targeted Tehran’s lucrative “oil refineries and energy infrastructure” on Saturday afternoon, signaling that the Jewish state is expanding the scope of its historic military campaign beyond Iran’s nuclear sites and military installations, the New York Times reported, citing Iranian state-controlled media.

Explosions could be heard at the South Pars gas field in Iran’s Bushehr province and at the Asalouieh refinery along the Persian Gulf, according to Iran’s state press, which claimed Israel used “micro aerial vehicles” to target the sites.

Areas of South Pars caught fire, leading Iran to dispatch emergency services.

Israel reportedly warned Iran days ago that any strike on civilians, such as those on Friday in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, would prompt the Jewish state to target Tehran’s oil infrastructure.

Israel made good on that promise on Saturday, showing that it is willing to expand military operations beyond Tehran’s nuclear sites.

The IDF confirmed earlier in the day that the ongoing air campaign eliminated more than 400 military targets, degrading Tehran’s ability to launch retaliatory strikes on Israel.

“A significant wave of strikes” carried out over the past 24 hours demonstrates “new Israeli Air Force [IAF] capabilities and aerial superiority over Iranian skies,” IDF spokesman Effie Defrin said during a briefing.

“The IAF launched a massive strike executed by over 70 fighter jets, striking targets in Tehran, deep in the heart of the country. The road to Tehran is open.”

Israel “struck over 40 missile-related targets and advanced air defense array systems across Iran, as well as additional command and launch infrastructure” as part of its campaign to destroy Iranian defenses, the IDF said.

Israeli fighter jets and attack drones swarmed the airspace above Tehran for over two hours, according to the IDF.

“Dozens of aircraft are now operating freely over Tehran thanks to our strikes that neutralized many of Iran’s Air Defense Array threats,” Defrin said. “This is an arena where IAF fighter jets are operating for the first time—marking the deepest range we’ve ever reached in Iran.”

Israeli planes also destroyed “dozens of missiles and missile launchers,” including a cache of surface-to-surface systems located in western Iran, according to additional information the IDF provided.

Israel’s ongoing attack has come at a cost. An Iranian barrage of hundreds of ballistic missiles fired at Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and other Israeli cities killed at least three and wounded at least 19.

Israel’s emergency services published footage showing bombed-out homes and wreckage in residential areas.

Iran, meanwhile, claims that 78 people are dead and around 300 injured as a result of Israel’s airstrikes.

Iran canceled plans to participate in a sixth round of nuclear talks with the Trump administration originally scheduled for Sunday amid the chaos of the past few days.

“Continuing negotiations between Iran and the US in a situation where the Zionist regime’s savagery continues is unjustifiable,” Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said.

“Iran has given a decisive response to the Zionist regime’s aggressions to protect its national sovereignty, people, and security, and is resolved to use its legitimate right to take countermeasures.”

A senior Trump administration official told the Washington Free Beacon that the United States would still like to see a deal between Washington, D.C., and Tehran.

“While there will be no meeting Sunday, we remain committed to talks and hope the Iranians will come to the table soon,” the official said.