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Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/26/world/middleeast/israel-air-defenses-iran-energy-sites.html
Israel Destroyed Air-Defense Systems Protecting Critical Iranian Energy Sites
(New York Times) Farnaz Fassihi and Ronen Bergman - Israel's attacks on Iran on Oct. 26 destroyed air-defense systems protecting several critical oil and petrochemical refineries, as well as guarding a large gas field and a major port in southern Iran, according to Iranian and Israeli defense officials. The sites targeted included defenses at the Bandar Imam Khomeini petrochemical complex in Khuzestan Province, the Bandar Imam Khomeini port adjacent to it, and the Abadan oil refinery. Air-defense systems were also struck in Ilam Province, at the refinery for the Tange Bijar gas field. These critical energy and economic hubs are now vulnerable to future attacks if the cycle of retaliation between Iran and Israel continues. Israeli officials said that initial plans, developed immediately after Iran fired waves of ballistic missiles at Israel on Oct. 1, included strikes on targets linked to Iran's energy industry and nuclear project, but the U.S. urged Israel not to do so. Israel's attacks have effectively taken out four S-300 air-defense systems that Iran had purchased from Russia. Israel disabled one in April in an attack on a military base in Isfahan Province and three on Saturday, at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport and the Malad missile base.