On Oct. 1, Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel in retaliation for the assassinations of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran in July. The large-scale retaliation, which included hypersonic Fatah missiles, marked the largest missile barrage on a single country in history. Iran targeted two military bases and the headquarters of Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency. Many of the missiles were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system and U.S. military assets in the region. Israeli officials claim more than 90 percent of the missiles were intercepted, but Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that 90 percent of the 180 missiles fired hit their intended targets.Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is calling for U.S. military action against Iran's energy infrastructure following Iran's missile attack on Israel.
🇮🇷🇮🇱#BREAKING: The Iron Dome Is Failing to Stop Iran's Missiles pic.twitter.com/kTIiNSTNHP A 30-second video circulating on social media shows at least 23 strikes, illustrating the scale of the attack and Iran’s ability to penetrate Israeli missile defense systems.
— Censored Men (@CensoredMen) October 1, 2024
This is apparently a video from Nevatim Airbase. This was an area that was struck in April by Iran. The IDF was quick to release videos showing how limited the damage was then and how few missiles got through.
Look at how many impacts there are tonight.pic.twitter.com/cCL1zhNo6D
— Séamus Malekafzali (@Seamus_Malek) October 1, 2024
Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Mohammad Bagheri, said that Nevatim air base, the Netzarim military facility and the Tel Nof intelligence unit, were hit in the Tuesday night assault.
“This missile attack against Israel should be the breaking point and I would urge the Biden Administration to coordinate an overwhelming response with Israel, starting with Iran’s ability to refine oil,” Graham said in a statement. “These oil refineries need to be hit and hit hard because that is the source of cash for the regime to perpetrate their terror.”
Graham is not alone in suggesting strikes on Iranian oil infrastructure.
The day after the attack, Israeli officials indicated they would consider military actions, including hitting strategic infrastructure such as oil or gas facilities, or targeting Iranian nuclear sites.
Oil prices rose following the Iranian missile barrage as the possibility of Israel striking oil infrastructure heightened concerns.
Iran produces more than three million barrels of crude oil per day, with about half exported. “If Israel were to disable some of Iran’s capacity, global oil markets would face the challenge of reduced spare capacity,” said Stewart Glickman, deputy research director at CFRA Research.
Glickman added that it would be “pretty material to the global market.”
Reaffirming that its missile attack was a response to Israeli provocations, the IRGC warned of further retaliation if Israel continues to escalate the situation.
“If the Zionist regime reacts to Iranian operations, it will face crushing attacks,” the IRGC said in a statement carried by the Fars news agency, adding that Tuesday’s attack was “in accordance with the United Nations Charter.”
