Flames and smoke rise from Iran’s Abadan refinery early Monday following a reported strike, as seen from al-Siba in Basra governorate across the Shatt al-Arab waterway.
Strike hits Iran’s Abadan, igniting large fires visible from Basra
BASRA — A powerful strike hit Iran’s Abadan shortly after 1 a.m. Monday, igniting large fires visible from across the Shatt al-Arab waterway in southern Iraq, witnesses in Basra governorate told 964media.
Residents of al-Siba, about 60 kilometers south of Basra city, gathered along the western bank of the river to watch the flames rising from the Iranian side after hearing loud explosions. “The strike occurred exactly at one o’clock in the morning,” witnesses said. A 964media correspondent in al-Faw confirmed the strike targeted the refinery opposite al-Siba subdistrict and that no damage was reported on the Iraqi side, where major gas, oil and maritime facilities are located.
The Abadan refinery, one of Iran’s largest oil facilities, sits directly across from Iraqi territory along the Shatt al-Arab and was originally built by the British during World War I.
The strike appears to be the first reported targeting of Iranian petroleum infrastructure since coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes began Saturday. Iran has since launched missiles and drones toward U.S. military facilities across the region, airstrikes have hit PMF positions in Babil and Anbar, and projectiles have been intercepted near Erbil’s Harir Air Base. Iraq has closed its airspace and declared nationwide mourning following the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.