IRGC warns Israel started 'dangerous game' attacking oil facilities

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Monday accused Israel of starting a "dangerous game" by targeting civilian infrastructure and oil facilities, announcing immediate retaliatory missile strikes against Haifa in northern Israel following an earlier Israeli attack on a petrochemical plant.

Retaliatory Strikes

The IRGC stated it launched missiles at Haifa "a few minutes ago" in direct response to the Israeli airstrike on the Mahshahr petrochemical firm in southwestern Iran, which caused partial damage to the industrial complex earlier in the same day. The elite force warned that the consequences of this escalation for the global economy would be "the responsibility of the main arsonist in this field, America," according to a statement carried by state broadcaster IRIB.

Regional Escalation

Sirens sounded across multiple Israeli cities as Tehran's missiles reached their targets, marking the latest flashpoint in a conflict that has kept the region on edge since late February. The United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes against Iran at that time, prompting Iranian retaliation against Israel and other regional countries hosting American military assets.

A temporary ceasefire took effect on April 8 following weeks of fighting that has killed thousands, but negotiations subsequently stalled amid disputes over implementation and regional developments. More than two months of war have disrupted maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and threatened global energy supplies, with both sides trading accusations over the collapse of diplomatic efforts.