Israel attacks oil resources in Tehran, Netanyahu says 'many surprises' ahead

A screengrab of a video appearing to show the aftermath of strikes on Iranian oil infrastructure in Tehran. (Credit: The Times of Israel)

The Israel Defence Force said on Saturday that it's air force attacked significant oil resources in Tehran, which it suspected of being directly connected to Iran's military industrial complex.

In videos that have been widely circulated on social media, thick plumes of smoke could be seen arising from an oil storage facility in Tehran.

“The military forces of the Iranian terror regime make direct and frequent use of these fuel tanks to operate military infrastructure. Through them, the Iranian terror regime distributes fuel to various consumers, including military entities in Iran,” said the IDF in a statement, as reported by The Times of Israel.

The strike “constitutes an additional step in deepening the damage to the military infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime,” said the IDF.

An Iranian oil ministry source cited by the Fars news agency said three oil depots in western Tehran were struck by Israeli fighter jets. The report said the depots were struck in the Kuhak and Shahran areas of the capital and in the nearby city of Karaj.

State media blamed “an attack from the U.S. and the Zionist regime” at the facility that supplies the capital and neighboring provinces in the north.

According to news agency Jerusalem Post, senior Israeli sources said in recent years, Iran's (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) took over certain portions of the economy, especially in the oil sector.

Following the attacks, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “many surprises” for the next phase of the Israel-Iran war, which entered its ninth day on Sunday (March 8).

According to Times of Israel, Netanyahu said the US-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran would continue unabated and that the “moment of truth” was nearing for Iranians to overthrow their government.

Stating that Israel was “not trying to divide Iran” but rather “trying to free Iran,” Netanyahu said the overthrow of the regime would bring peace for both Tehran and Tel Aviv.

Later on Saturday night, US President Donald Trump told reporters that the war “will continue for a while longer” and that Iran would be “hit very hard” and more “areas and groups of people” would become targets.

Though ostensibly the goal of the campaign is to destroy the Iran's ability to threaten Israel and the region, Netanyahu and Trump have both indicated that they also seek regime change, with the US President demanding a role in choosing Iran’s next leader.