Recent reports, including coverage by the New York Times, indicate that Israel conducted covert attacks on two major natural gas pipelines within Iran. These attacks have led to extensive disruptions in the supply of heat and cooking gas to millions of people across several Iranian provinces, underlining a significant escalation in the ongoing shadow war between Israel and Iran.
The operations against Iran’s gas infrastructure signal a strategic expansion in the conflict, historically characterized by targeted strikes on military and nuclear sites, assassinations of key personnel, and cyberattacks. The New York Times, citing two Western officials and a military strategist affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, highlighted the sophisticated nature of these attacks, emphasizing the required in-depth knowledge of Iran’s infrastructure and the precise coordination needed to execute them simultaneously at multiple locations.
Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji, in statements to Iranian media, referred to the incidents as “sabotage and terrorist attacks” aimed at disrupting the nation’s energy infrastructure, particularly during the winter season. While not directly accusing Israel, the implication of these statements, combined with the analysis by unnamed Western officials and military strategists, points towards Israel’s involvement.
The targeted pipelines play a critical role in Iran’s domestic energy supply, carrying natural gas from the south to major cities including Tehran and Isfahan. The attacks reportedly knocked out approximately 15 percent of Iran’s daily natural gas production, underscoring the operations’ impact on Iran’s critical infrastructure.
Despite the immediate disruption, Iranian officials claimed that repair teams had swiftly managed to restore service. However, reports from local governors and Iran’s national gas company indicated widespread outages and the forced closure of government buildings across five provinces, revealing the attacks’ extensive impact on Iranian society.
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