Iranian officials blame Israel for attack on natural gas pipeline

Iran’s Oil Minister Javad Owji on Wednesday said that Israel was behind two explosions that hit one of the country’s main pipelines on Feb. 14, Iran’s state-run media reported. Local officials did not report any casualties in the strikes, but the country’s Islamic Republic News Agency said the explosions disrupted natural gas supplies in three provinces. Israel did not immediately comment Wednesday on the accusation. Israel has launched strikes against military targets and Iran’s nuclear program in the past.

Have there been other alleged Israeli strikes in the region? Syrian state media on Wednesday reported that an Israeli airstrike hit a residential building in the capital of Damascus and killed at least two people. While Israel had not commented on the strike as of Wednesday morning, it has taken responsibility for attacks on Iran-backed groups in Syria in the past. The strikes have ramped up since Hamas terrorists attacked Israel in October.

Dig deeper: Listen to Mary Reichard’s report on The World and Everything in It podcast about what it will take to deter Iran.