Anadolu reports that the belligerents in the Iran War have expanded their targets from conventional military targets to steel mills, petrochemical complexes, transport networks, power plants and digital infrastructure.

For military planners, attacking critical infrastructure can weaken an opponent’s ability to sustain a war. For civilians, it can disrupt electricity, water, transportation, communications and economic activity.

The shift reflects a broader trend in modern warfare, where infrastructure that supports a country’s economy and security is increasingly viewed as strategically important.​​​​​​​

The conflict, which began on February 28, initially focused mainly on military-related targets.

US and Israeli operations focused on nuclear facilities, missile sites, Revolutionary Guard installations, radar systems and command centres, while Iran’s response was towards Israeli military positions and US bases across the region.

By late March, the scope of US-Israeli strikes had expanded to include infrastructure linked to Iran’s industrial and energy sectors, including Mobarakeh Steel Company in Isfahan, Khuzestan Steel Company in Ahvaz and petrochemical facilities in Tabriz, Mahshahr, Bandar Imam, Asaluyeh and Shiraz. Strikes also hit railways, highways and bridges.

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