Strike hits South Pars gas field, halts output at key refineries

2026-03-18 - 14:30

TEHRAN — A US-Israeli airstrike hit gas storage tanks at Iran’s South Pars field in the southern city of Asaluyeh on Wednesday, halting production at two refineries with a combined capacity of about 100 million cubic meters per day, Iranian media reported.According to the semi-official Fars News Agency, loud explosions were heard across multiple refinery sites in Asaluyeh following the attack.The report said several gas storage tanks and parts of refinery infrastructure were targeted across different operational phases, including units three, four, five and six.Employees were evacuated to safe areas, while firefighting and rescue teams were deployed to contain fires triggered by the strike.There was no immediate information on casualties or the full extent of the damage.The strike comes as the United States and Israel continue a joint offensive on Iran that began on Feb. 28, which has reportedly killed around 1,300 people, including senior Iranian leadership figures.Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries, causing casualties, infrastructure damage and disruption to global markets and aviation.