Israel lands economic blow with strikes on oil and gas sites, accuses Iran of bombing civilians

Israel has escalated its attacks on Iran by bombing major gas and oil sites and claiming senior leaders are ‘packing their bags’, while accusing Tehran of revenge strikes targeting civilians.

Clockwise from top left: An apartment building lies in ruins following an Iranian strike on central Israel, People watch as flames from an Israeli attack rise from the Sharan oil depot in Tehran, Israeli locals and security forces take shelter, troops remove a body from the rubble in Bal Yam. Picture: Reuters, AP, Getty Images

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Israel has escalated its attacks on Iran by bombing major gas and oil sites crucial to its economy and claiming senior leaders of the Islamic Republic are “packing their bags”, while accusing Tehran of revenge strikes targeting civilians as the death toll grows in the Jewish state.

Iran’s state media warned the regime would target Middle East military bases of Western nations that provided help to Israel, prompting concerns the conflict could spread.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer deployed fighter jets to protect the nation’s bases in the region, while US President ­Donald Trump warned Iran it would face consequences if “we are attacked in any way, shape or form”.

The Israeli death toll was ­expected to grow from 10 on Sunday evening – including four children – with Iran accused of targeting civilians in its bombings of northern Israel.

A baby was among the more than 200 Israelis injured in the retaliatory attacks that forced “millions” to run for shelter over the weekend as air raid sirens were activated in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Israeli media reported seven people were missing in the bombed city of Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv, while a ballistic missile killed four people when it struck a two-storey home near the oil-producing city of Haifa.

Iran has reported 78 people were killed and 320 wounded in Israel’s first round of pre-emptive attacks on Friday aimed at dismantling the regime’s nuclear program, with the operation killing nine nuclear scientists and three of Tehran’s most senior military figures.

At least a further five Iranians died in a second wave of strikes over the weekend, with the Israel Defence Forces saying it targeted sites related to Tehran’s nuclear program including the Iranian Ministry of Defence headquarters. The IDF bombed the Shahran oil and gas distribution hub near Tehran causing a massive fire, prompting Israel’s ­Defence Minister Israel Katz to declare “Tehran is burning”.

Israeli missiles also struck a refinery at the South Pars gas field in Bushehr Province, causing a fire that halted production at one the world’s largest energy reservoirs.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Iranian regime was “bombing our civilian neighbourhoods while we are targeting the terrorists”.

He said Israel attacked Iran because it had “information” the regime was planning on giving nuclear weapons to its terrorist proxies, threatening the safety of Western nations.

In a video statement that included a birthday message to US President Donald Trump, Mr Netanyahu said “our enemy is your enemy”.

“By doing what we are doing, we are dealing with something that will threaten all of us,” he said. “Our victory will be your victory.”

Mr Netanyahu said the Israel ministry had done “extraordinary things” but there was more to be done.

“Our pilots over the skies of Tehran will deal blows to the Ayatollah regime that they cannot even imagine,” he said. “We have indications that senior ­leaders in Iran are already packing their bags, they sense what is coming.”

Rescue personnel help injured Israeli to evacuate from a damaged residential building in central Israel. Picture: Reuters

Iran’s chief judge cleric, Mohseni Ejeie, warned that any ­Iranian citizen who posted comments on social media supporting Israel’s attack faced up to six years in jail.

With the escalating war set to overshadow the G7 summit in Canada being attended by Mr Trump and Anthony Albanese, the US President reiterated Washington “had nothing to do” with Israel’s attacks amid reports his administration refused requests to join the conflict.

Mr Trump used social media to declare that both he and Russian President Vladimir Putin ­believe “this war in Israel-Iran should end”.

“If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before,” Mr Trump said.

“However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!”

US-Iran nuclear negotiations which had been set for Sunday in Oman were called off.

Speaking in Seattle ahead of the G7 beginning on Monday (AEST), the Prime Minister said he did not expect Australia would be asked to join the conflict.

“I wouldn’t expect that there would be a request for Australia to play a military role, but we will continue to play a role in terms of looking after Australian citizens,” Mr Albanese said.

Mr Albanese said he was “sure that the events obviously that are occurring in the Middle East will be a topic of conversation”.

Mr Starmer confirmed his nation was moving fighter jets and other military aircraft to the Middle East, after Iranian state media quoted an official warning the regime would target bases of the US, Britain and France if they provided support to Israel.

Mr Starmer said he had urged Mr Netanyahu to avoid a full-scale war with Iran.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong called on both Israel and Iran to de-escalate tensions and pursue diplomacy, despite labelling Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program as a “threat to international peace and security”.

“What I would say is the key issue is not, you know, is there a threat – there is, we all know that. It’s whether or not in response to it we increase the risk of regional escalation and that would have dire consequences to the people of the region,” she said.

“So that is why Australia has said we urge de-escalation, we urge restraint, we urge dialogue and diplomacy, and that call has been reflected by like-minded and partners.”

Israel’s ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon suggested calls for diplomacy were unrealistic.

He characterised the conflict as one “between a democracy seeking to defend itself and a regime bent on destruction”.

“Yet some still urge diplomacy, as if words can stop warheads,” Mr Maimon said on X shortly after Senator Wong’s interview aired.

“This is how the conflict began. Israel cannot afford the illusion that existential threats are empty words.

“We have a duty to act, to protect our people.”

Strategic Analysis Australia director Michael Shoebridge accused Senator Wong of “failing to engage with what’s happening” and doing nothing more than “wishing” for the end of Iran’s nuclear program after she urged “de-escalation” in the region.

“Obviously, when there’s conflict, the world wants it to end and for there to be peace,” he said.

“But Penny Wong is failing to engage with what’s happening and she has no solution to Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons besides wishing that they weren’t doing it.”

Mr Shoebridge accused Mr Albanese and Senator Wong of not putting forward any position but one “critical of Israel no matter what happens”.

Mr Shoebridge pointed to the recent assessment by the International Atomic Energy Agency that Iran was in breach of its non-proliferation obligations and had been amassing near-weapons grade, enriched uranium.

“Damaging Iran’s capacity to assemble and use nuclear weapons, I think, is a good thing,” he said.

“If Iran had real nuclear weapons, that would be far more destabilising for the Middle East than what’s happening now.”