Israel's attack on Iran on the morning of October 26 destroyed air defense systems set up to protect several important oil refineries and petrochemical plants, as well as air defense systems protecting a major gas field and a major port in southern Iran, according to three Iranian officials and three senior Israeli defense officials.
The sites targeted by Israel included defense systems at the Bandar Imam Khomeini petrochemical complex, in Khuzestan province; the Bandar Imam Khomeini economic port; and at the Abadan oil refinery. Air defense systems in Ilam province, at the refinery for the Tange Bijar gas field, were also attacked.
Three Iranian officials told the New York Times that Israel's destruction of the air defense systems caused deep alarm in Iran because key economic and energy centers are now more vulnerable to attack if the retaliatory attack between Iran and Israel continues.
"Israel is sending us a clear message. This could have very serious economic consequences for Iran," said Hamid Hosseini, an expert on Iran's oil industry and a member of the Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce.
Iran's military said four soldiers operating air defense systems were killed in the Israeli attacks. According to Iranian media, the death toll is likely to rise.
Two Israeli officials revealed that the initial plan was to attack targets related to Iran's energy industry and nuclear project. The retaliatory attack plan was made by Israel soon after Iran fired a series of ballistic missiles at Israel in early October.
As Israel planned, however, the United States urged its allies not to attack any Iranian energy, oil or nuclear facilities, fearing that an attack on such valuable sites could provoke a more violent Iranian response, destabilize the global economy and trigger a full-blown regional war that could draw in the United States.
Therefore, in the October 26 attack, Israel decided to strike air defense systems around some energy facilities but not target the facilities themselves.
