What happened: Overnight Saturday into Sunday, Israel hit Tehran's oil storage facilities for the first time. The fires sent up massive pillars of flame and smoke. By Sunday morning, Tehran was covered in toxic black smoke. Iran struck back by hitting a Bahrain water plant. A second Pakistani civilian was killed by missile debris in Dubai.
Israel Strikes Tehran Oil Depots — First Civilian Energy Site Hit Inside the Capital
Israeli strikes hit four oil storage facilities and an oil production transfer center in Tehran and nearby Alborz province Saturday night, Iran's Fars news agency reported.
Associated Press video showed pillars of fire glowing against the night sky over the Iranian capital.
Four tanker drivers working at the facilities were killed, according to Fars.
This is the first time a civilian industrial facility inside Tehran has been hit in the nine-day war. Previous strikes focused on military sites, missile facilities, and government buildings.
By Sunday morning, thick black smoke from the fires was blocking out the sun. AP footage showed the entire Tehran skyline covered in a dark haze.
Health Emergency: Tehran Residents Warned of Toxic Air, Acid Rain
The Iranian Red Crescent issued an emergency health warning to all Tehran residents Sunday morning.
The warnings told people to:
- Stay indoors and wear masks outside
- Do not turn on air conditioning — it pulls in toxic air from outside
- Do not go outside right after rainfall — burning oil can mix with rain to form toxic acid rain
- Cover all food kept outside
- Gargle with salt water to clean oily soot from the throat
Tehran's governor recommended everyone wear masks outdoors.
Tehran is a city of around 10 million people.
Iran Hits Bahrain Desalination Plant — Drinking Water at Risk
Iran launched drone strikes on Bahrain overnight, hitting a desalination plant and causing what Bahrain's government described as "material damage."
This is the first time an Arab country's desalination infrastructure has been targeted in the war.
Desalination plants turn seawater into drinking water. The Persian Gulf region is one of the driest places on earth. Many Gulf countries get most of their drinking water from these plants.
Earlier Sunday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi blamed a US airstrike for damaging an Iranian desalination plant on Qeshm Island first. He warned: "The US set this precedent, not Iran."
Bahrain hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet — a major base for American military operations in the region.
Second Pakistani Civilian Killed by Missile Debris in Dubai
A Pakistani truck driver was killed Sunday in Dubai when debris from an intercepted missile fell and hit his vehicle.
It is the second Pakistani national killed in Dubai by missile debris in just a few days. Two other foreign workers — from Nepal and Bangladesh — were also killed earlier in the same way.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the deaths.
A missile alert also sounded in Dubai Sunday morning, sending residents to shelters.
Dubai is a major global city and financial hub. It is not a party to the war — but it sits near Iran and hosts foreign nationals from around the world.
Iran's President Threatens More Attacks on US Targets
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian appeared to reverse his Saturday apology — and threatened to escalate.
"When we are attacked, we have no choice but to respond. The more pressure they impose on us, the stronger our response will naturally be," Pezeshkian said in a video statement Sunday.
"Our Iran, our country, will not bow easily in the face of bullying, oppression or aggression — and it never has," he added.
He insisted Iran is not targeting its Gulf neighbors — blaming the US for turning regional countries against Iran. But Iranian missile and drone attacks have struck energy facilities, hotels, and cities across the Gulf.
The Numbers So Far
At least 1,230 people killed in Iran since the war began February 28, according to Iranian officials. That includes 200 children and 200 women, the Iranian Health Ministry said Sunday.
More than 300 people killed in Lebanon from Israeli strikes. Around a dozen killed in Israel. Six US troops killed.
Iran's Red Crescent says strikes have damaged about 10,000 civilian buildings — nearly 8,000 homes and 1,600 businesses, plus medical and school facilities.
Oil prices: Brent crude $92.69/barrel (up 8.5% in one day Friday). US crude: $90.90 (up 12.2%). Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — which carries 20% of the world's daily oil — remains severely disrupted.
What Each Side Says
Israel: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu promised "many surprises" for the next phase of the war. Israel has not officially commented on the Tehran oil depot strikes. Israel says it is targeting Iran's military and energy infrastructure to weaken its ability to fight.
Iran: Iran's government says the strikes are attacks on civilians. It points to the school killing 200 children on Day 1, the 10,000 damaged civilian buildings, and now the oil fires choking Tehran. Iran's parliament speaker said oil prices will "continue to soar" as long as the war goes on, warning of global economic damage.
United States: President Trump on Saturday downplayed reports that Russia is sharing intelligence with Iran to help it target US forces. "If they're getting information, it's not helping them much," Trump said. He also waved off tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for now, saying the US has "a lot of oil."
This report is based on AP News live blog coverage (multiple on-the-ground reporters), Fars News Agency, and official statements from the Iranian Red Crescent and Bahrain government. All major claims confirmed by 2+ sources. Death tolls are from official government figures and may be incomplete.