Joint Iran-Hezbollah strike could paralyze Israel’s energy lifelines, Alma Center warns

A new Alma Center assessment warns that a coordinated Iran-Hezbollah attack on Haifa Bay, gas rigs, or ports could cripple Israel's energy and water infrastructure, as over 70% of electricity comes from offshore gas and half of water from desalination. Hezbollah retains anti-ship missiles and drones, while Iran has demonstrated willingness to target energy assets in recent conflicts. Israel has defensive layers but many remain untested against a multi-domain assault.

A new assessment by the Alma Research and Education Center warns that a combined Iranian and Hezbollah attack on Haifa Bay, including strikes against civilian shipping or gas rigs in the Mediterranean, is among several key threats Israel must prepare for. The center highlights that over 70% of Israel's electricity is produced from natural gas extracted from offshore rigs, and more than half of the country's water supply comes from desalination facilities, making attacks on this infrastructure potentially devastating. Hezbollah retains limited anti-shipping cruise missiles such as the Yakhont and Ghadir, alongside anti-shipping ballistic missiles like the Khalij Fars, and demonstrated drone capabilities with the July 2022 attack on the Karish reservoir. Iran targeted Israel's ports, gas rigs, and oil refineries in the 12-day war in June and in March 2026, damaging the Bazan oil refinery. Israel has advanced defensive protocols including Saar 6 ships, Barak LRAD interceptors, and multi-layered air-defense systems, but many newly developed layers remain untested against a coordinated multi-domain assault. The center notes that even a temporary shutdown of production, frightening civilian crews, or hardening marine insurance conditions could produce a strategic effect for Iran.