Haifa: Israel attacked the Iranian navy in the Caspian Sea as part of the ongoing hostilities between the two countries. An Israeli military spokesman revealed that the air force conducted its first offensive against Iranian naval targets in the Caspian Sea on Wednesday. The attack resulted in the destruction of at least five large warships, several patrol boats, and coast guard vessels. Additionally, the main command center, shipyard, and repair facility in the Caspian Sea were rendered unusable, significantly weakening Iran's naval capabilities in the region.
According to Thai News Agency, while Iran continues its retaliatory attacks on Israel, a fire broke out at an oil refinery in the northern Israeli port city of Haifa. The Israeli Ministry of Energy stated that there was no significant damage and that the fire was caused by a controlled gas release, not a missile attack. This comes amid Iranian military claims of attacking the Haifa refinery and other targets in Israel with high-precision missiles, escalating the conflict targeting energy infrastructure. Previously, an Iranian attack on March 18th shut down the Habshan gas processing plant in the UAE and caused fires at two refineries in Kuwait.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Iran no longer has the capability to enrich uranium or produce missiles after 20 days of joint airstrikes by the United States and Israel. He stated that the attacks would continue to weaken Iran, claiming that Iran's missile and drone arsenals are being depleted and will eventually be destroyed. Netanyahu also commented on the lack of public protest in Iran, indicating that it is up to the Iranian people to confront their government when the time is right.
President Donald Trump confirmed that the Department of Defense has requested a budget of $200 billion to support military operations in Iran and strengthen the military overall. Trump emphasized that this budget is a necessary investment to maintain the United States' global military leadership, citing the volatile geopolitical climate as a reason for preparedness. Despite the significant budget request, he assured that the military is not currently lacking weapons and that spending is being managed prudently.