Iran’s Red Crescent Society warned on Sunday (local time) that Tehran is likely to soon be inundated with toxic rain that could cause chemical burns and damage the lungs, the Daily Mail reported.
The warning comes as Israel targets oil facilities in Tehran, with residents reporting the smell of burning lingers in the air and many saying it remained dark even as the sun rose and rain continued to fall over the city. Several other residents said oil-saturated raindrops fell from black clouds over the city in the hours after the attacks, the Times of Israel reported.
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The Red Crescent advises residents to stay indoors
The group warned people not to leave their homes even after the rain stopped because “evaporation of acid droplets from hot ground or surfaces increases the concentration of toxins in the air you breathe several times over.” Iran’s Red Crescent said the oil storage explosions released “significant amounts of toxic hydrocarbon compounds, sulfur and nitrogen oxides” into the air.
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The announcement from the Red Crescent Society came this morning, with the aid group warning residents that they risk chronic lung and skin diseases following the March 7 bombing.
Residents were also urged to clean the outside surfaces of packaged foods, even if they are sealed, as tiny acidic particles on the packages could contaminate the food once it is opened. The aid organization also advised people to replace their water filtration systems, warning that contaminated water could damage older filters.
Israel targets Iranian oil facilities
On Saturday evening, Israel targeted four oil storage facilities along with an oil transportation hub in Tehran and Alborz, killing at least four tanker drivers, Fars reported. The strikes sent pillars of fire into the sky, seen in videos as a bright glow illuminating the Saturday night skyline. The strike appeared to be the first time in the war that a civilian industrial site had been targeted.
The Times of Israel reported that the sky over the Iranian capital was so dark on Sunday morning that many residents had to turn on their lights to see through the haze. Around 10:30 a.m. (local time), vehicles still needed headlights to drive along Valiasr Street. Security personnel in Tehran reportedly directed traffic while wearing coats and masks to protect themselves.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Saturday: “The military forces of the Iranian terrorist regime directly and frequently use these fuel tanks to operate military infrastructure. Through them, the Iranian terrorist regime distributes fuel to various consumers, including military units in Iran.”
It added that the strikes were another step in deepening the damage to the Iranian regime’s military infrastructure.
American-Israeli Iran War
The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, targeting the country’s military and naval forces and killing several of its top leaders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Following the attacks, Tehran retaliated and launched wider attacks on Israeli and US bases in the Middle East, plunging the region into renewed military confrontation.
Cities including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Manama, Doha and Riyadh reported explosions that saw debris fall from drone and missile attacks.
The war has now entered its ninth day with no end in sight as US President Donald Trump demanded Tehran’s “unconditional surrender”.
