Bazan halts refinery operations after deadly Iranian missile strike in Haifa

On Monday, June 16, 2025, Bazan Group confirmed that operations at its Haifa Bay oil refinery were completely halted following a deadly missile strike the night before, attributed to Iran.

The attack reportedly killed three individuals on site and caused significant structural damage, online media sources reveal.

In an official notice to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, Bazan disclosed that the missile severely damaged the power plant supporting its operations.

As a result, the company was forced to shut down all refinery and subsidiary facilities.

The group noted that it is now coordinating with the Israel Electric Company to restore electricity and eventually resume operations.

Among the casualties was Dani Avraham, a 59-year-old father of two from Kiryat Motzkin, who was the first victim to be publicly named.

The local municipality described him as a humble and devoted professional with over three decades of service in the energy sector, someone who was always ready to assist others even in challenging times.

The refinery, which features a distinctive cooling tower that dominates the Haifa Bay skyline, has long been regarded as a strategic target by Israel’s adversaries, including Hezbollah, Iran’s Lebanese proxy.

Though previously threatened, this marks the first time the facility has sustained a direct hit.

Back in October, Hezbollah released footage allegedly captured by a drone flying over the refinery and other sensitive sites nearby.

The video heightened already-existing concerns among locals and security officials about the site’s vulnerability.

The refinery’s presence in such a densely populated region has made it a source of controversy for years.

Environmental advocates and local residents have campaigned for its relocation, citing both health risks from pollution and the potential for mass casualties if ever attacked.

These concerns prompted a government decision in 2022 to shut down and relocate the facility by 2030.

Initial efforts to remove surrounding oil tanks were scheduled to begin this year.

Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav voiced public frustration during an interview with Army Radio on Monday, urging the national government to act decisively.

“The government needs to be brave and take these factories out of residential areas,” he stated.

Emergency responders faced significant challenges at the site. The missile strike triggered a fire that engulfed parts of the facility, complicating rescue efforts.

For hours, teams worked to reach those trapped under rubble, but intense flames and collapsing debris impeded their progress.

According to reports from Haaretz, the fire had not been brought under control by Monday afternoon.

Rescue workers initially managed to establish contact with the trapped individuals, but communication was lost early during the operation.

Authorities later confirmed that the three victims likely died from smoke inhalation and exposure to intense heat, rather than the direct impact of the missile.

Earlier media reports indicated that the victims were residents of Haifa and the surrounding Krayot region.

Two additional workers who had been nearby during the explosion managed to escape with only minor injuries.

The missile reportedly struck just after 4:00 a.m. on June 16. However, Israeli media faced a prolonged gag order, which delayed the publication of key details for over 12 hours.

During this time, only the death toll and the general location of the strike were publicly confirmed.

In contrast, international outlets such as Al Jazeera, which is currently banned from broadcasting in Israel, shared live footage and more specific information soon after the event.

Although the physical impact of the ballistic missile caused only localized destruction at the facility, the resulting fire and operational shutdown underscored the refinery’s fragility and strategic sensitivity.

This latest incident has reignited public debate around industrial infrastructure placement in residential zones and further intensified calls for relocating the Haifa refinery as soon as possible.

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