US-Israeli Strikes Hit Iran Petrochemical Zone

US and Israeli airstrikes hit several petrochemical and industrial facilities in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province on Saturday, according to local officials, as the regional conflict widened further.

Officials said the main target was the Mahshahr Special Petrochemical Economic Zone, one of Iran’s key industrial hubs. The attacks were also reported in and around Ahvaz, the provincial capital, where multiple explosions were heard within minutes.

Khuzestan officials said three explosions were first reported in eastern and western parts of Ahvaz at around 10:45am local time. No immediate casualties were confirmed there.

Minutes later, a fresh wave of more powerful blasts struck the Mahshahr petrochemical area. Officials said several major facilities were hit, including Fajr 1 and 2, Rejal and Amir Kabir petrochemical plants. The full extent of the damage was not immediately clear, though authorities warned that casualties were possible.

Further strikes were later reported at the Shalamcheh border trade terminal in Khorramshahr, which officials said suffered heavy damage. Additional attacks also hit the Abou Ali petrochemical complex and the Bandar-e Imam Khomeini petrochemical facility, causing partial destruction.

At least five people were reported injured in the attacks on Mahshahr and Bandar-e Imam Khomeini, according to initial local assessments. Officials said the casualty toll could rise as rescue and damage assessment operations continued.

Following the strikes, authorities at the Special Economic Petrochemical Zone said all personnel from active industrial units had been evacuated under emergency safety measures. The evacuation was ordered by the area’s emergency command committee amid fears of further attacks and industrial hazards.

Officials also sought to reassure residents, saying that any potentially hazardous substances released during the strikes did not currently pose a danger to nearby urban areas. However, monitoring and safety inspections were continuing.

The attacks mark a significant escalation in hostilities, with key energy and industrial infrastructure now increasingly coming under direct fire. Khuzestan, home to some of Iran’s most important oil, gas and petrochemical facilities, is considered strategically vital to the country’s energy sector.

The latest strikes are likely to deepen concerns over the widening scope of the conflict and its potential impact on regional energy supplies and civilian safety.