Netanyahu Says Israeli Strikes Destroy 70% of Iran’s Steel Capacity as Tehran Retaliates

Israeli air strikes have destroyed around 70% of Iran’s steel production capacity, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while Iran has launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks across Israel and Gulf nations. The conflict has targeted civilian and industrial infrastructure, including a water desalination plant in Kuwait, and continues to disrupt energy supplies and trade. US President Donald Trump says the US could reopen the Strait of Hormuz if needed, as tensions escalate with no immediate resolution.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli air strikes have destroyed about 70 % of Iran’s steel production capacity, dealing what he described as a significant blow to Tehran’s ability to manufacture weapons and military equipment. Netanyahu said the strikes, carried out in coordination with the United States, have crippled major steel plants that supply raw materials used in missiles, drones, vehicles, and other military hardware. He vowed that Israel and the US will continue to “crush Iran” as the conflict persists.
The prime minister stated that the operations have targeted key industrial infrastructure and that the destruction of steel capacity weakens the economic foundations that support Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps. Iranian retaliatory missile and drone strikes have continued across the region, with attacks reported against industrial and energy facilities in Gulf states and Israel, underscoring how the war has spread beyond Iran’s borders and deepened regional instability.
A day earlier, local officials reported that eight people were killed in a US-led strike on a highway bridge connecting the city of Karaj to Tehran, a move that Iran condemned as a blatant attack on civilian infrastructure. Tehran’s foreign ministry described such strikes as tantamount to a “war crime,” reflecting growing tensions over the scope and legality of coalition attacks.
Amid the escalation, Iran has launched fresh missile and drone attacks not only at Israel but also at nations across the Gulf. In Kuwait, officials confirmed that a water desalination plant was hit, raising concerns about the security of civilian infrastructure that is critical for drinking water supplies in the arid region. Damage to such facilities has broader humanitarian implications, as desalination plants provide a lifeline for populations in Gulf states.
Iranian state media has further reported that a US fighter pilot ejected from an aircraft over southwestern Iran after it was reportedly shot down. Iranian channels claim that US aircraft and helicopters are conducting search and rescue operations inside Iran to find the missing pilot, though the United States has not independently confirmed these details.
The conflict has also drawn in rhetoric over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which about a fifth of the world’s oil shipments pass. US President Donald Trump says the United States could “easily” open the strait “with a little more time,” hinting at potential military measures to ensure security and the free flow of global energy supplies amid Iran’s disruptions. Trump’s remarks reflect Washington’s pressure campaign to break Iran’s blockade of the strait and stabilize international markets.
As the war continues into its sixth week, attacks have increasingly targeted civilian and industrial infrastructure, raising concerns among human rights experts and global leaders about the humanitarian toll and the broader economic fallout. The ongoing hostilities account for significant casualties and have disrupted global energy and trade flows, with governments and international organizations calling for urgent diplomatic solutions to prevent wider regional escalation.