A major Iranian missile strike has hit Israel’s Haifa refinery in retaliation for earlier Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear and military sites, intensifying the ongoing conflict.
BY PC Bureau
June 16, 2025 – Tensions between Israel and Iran have sharply intensified as the military confrontation enters its fourth consecutive day, with devastating consequences on both sides. In a major escalation, Iran launched a ballistic missile that reportedly struck Israel’s Haifa oil refinery complex late Sunday night, triggering a massive fire and raising fears of broader infrastructure sabotage.
Iran’s missile launch came in direct retaliation for Israel’s targeted airstrikes on Friday, which struck critical Iranian energy infrastructure and high-security nuclear facilities, including the Natanz enrichment site and the military base at Parchin. Among the most high-profile attacks was the bombing of Iran’s nuclear facility at Fordow, where multiple loud explosions caused significant ground tremors. Seismic sensors recorded a 2.5 magnitude earthquake centered near the site, believed to be the result of subterranean detonations.
🇮🇷🚀🔥Iranian News Agency: Haifa Refinery Was a Successful Target of Iranian Missiles🔥
There’s more 🚀 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/ITLY9UYSDb
— Hajji Wayne Conley 🇮🇪☝️ (@BigWayneConley) June 15, 2025
Iran’s Ministry of Health has reported a death toll of 224 civilians and military personnel since the conflict erupted on June 13. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have not officially commented on casualty figures but maintain that their targets were military in nature and part of a “preemptive defensive operation.”
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In a grave blow to Iran’s intelligence apparatus, Iranian state media confirmed the deaths of Brigadier General Mohammad Kazemi, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization, his deputy Hassan Mohaqiq, and senior intelligence officer Mohsen Bagheri. All three were reportedly killed in an Israeli drone strike on a classified IRGC command center in Kermanshah province.
The spiraling violence marks one of the most serious direct confrontations between the two regional adversaries in recent years. Israel’s initial strikes, which were described by analysts as “shock-and-awe-style” attacks, reportedly targeted not only nuclear scientists but also air defense systems and missile depots deep inside Iranian territory.
From god to bad 🫡
This is how precise Israel’s intelligence and execution is: pinpointed attack eliminating head of IRGC directly in his apartment, nearly 2,000 kilometers away from Israel. pic.twitter.com/yHiOSyus5M
— César Turincio (@turi_7) June 13, 2025
US President Donald Trump, speaking at a press briefing, reiterated unconditional support for Israel’s right to self-defense. He warned Iran that “the path to survival lies in diplomacy,” urging Tehran to return to the negotiating table for a new nuclear agreement. “Iran can prevent further destruction, but only through complete transparency and a new nuclear deal,” Trump said.
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With both nations now locked in a cycle of retaliation and strategic targeting, regional and international powers are calling for restraint. However, with no signs of de-escalation and nationalistic fervor rising in both countries, fears of a prolonged, full-scale war remain high.
