Attack on South Pars energy infrastructure suggests Israel may be targeting the economic backbone of the regime Netanyahu has urged Iranians to challenge.

Explosions and fires struck petrochemical and gas facilities tied to the massive South Pars field near the southern city of Asaluyeh on Wednesday. The field produces roughly 70% of Iran’s natural gas, making it one of the most critical pillars of the country’s economy. Hours earlier, Defense Minister Israel Katz signaled that the war could be expanding, saying, “The intensity of the strikes in Iran is increasing. Even today there will be significant surprises across all arenas that will escalate the war we are fighting.”

Reports from Iranian outlets described multiple blasts around petrochemical and refinery facilities in the area during the early afternoon. Fires were reported at parts of the complex, and several operational phases of the field were reportedly shut down as emergency crews attempted to contain the damage. Israeli media quickly linked the strike to Israel’s expanding campaign against Iranian targets.

The strike could represent a new stage in the escalation of the conflict. Wars of this type often climb an informal “escalation ladder”: beginning with targeted assassinations of senior figures, expanding to military and security infrastructure, and eventually reaching strategic national assets that sustain the state itself.

Targeting energy infrastructure carries a different kind of pressure. Iran’s oil and gas sector underpins much of the country’s economy, and disruptions can ripple through energy production, government revenue, and daily life for ordinary citizens. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already publicly encouraged Iranians to challenge the regime, arguing that change must ultimately come from within the country, with the U.S. and Israel’s support. Against that backdrop, strikes on the regime’s economic backbone could signal an effort not only to weaken Iran militarily, but also to intensify internal pressure on the government in Tehran.