The capital of Tehran was covered by thick clouds of toxic smoke after overnight airstrikes hit several major fuel depots. The attacks caused massive fires that burned for hours, sending heavy black smoke high into the sky. Soon after, residents in and around the city reported an unusual and disturbing sight—black-colored rainfall falling across wide areas.
The strikes targeted key fuel storage facilities linked to the country’s military infrastructure. As flames spread across the storage tanks, smoke filled the air above the city of nearly 10 million people. By morning, large parts of the skyline had turned dark, and the smoke cloud had traveled dozens of miles beyond the capital.
Many residents described the air as difficult to breathe. At the same time, rain mixed with soot and oil particles began falling from the polluted sky, leaving black stains on buildings, roads, and vehicles.
Fuel Depot Strikes Trigger Fires and Toxic Black Rain
The Israeli military confirmed that it carried out the attacks. According to officials, the operation targeted several fuel storage complexes connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. These facilities were reportedly used to distribute fuel to different military units.
Among the locations hit were the Aghdasieh oil warehouse in northeast Tehran; the Shahran oil depot in the northwestern part of the city; a refinery in the southern region; and another fuel depot in Karaj, west of the capital. These facilities are major parts of the country’s energy storage and distribution system.
When the fuel tanks were struck, large fires erupted and burned for hours. Thick black smoke rose from the burning fuel and spread across the sky. As the smoke mixed with moisture in the atmosphere, it eventually returned to the ground as dark, oily rain.
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Residents living miles away from the storage tanks reported seeing black droplets falling from the sky. The rainfall left surfaces covered in dark stains. Cars parked outdoors appeared coated in soot, and white vehicles quickly turned gray or black.
Environmental experts warn that such rainfall happens when pollutants and soot particles mix with rain clouds. The result can be rain contaminated with oil residue and chemical particles.
The smoke cloud also drifted across neighborhoods far from the attack sites. Some areas reported black rain even dozens of miles away from the burning fuel depots.
This was not the first time the Shahran oil depot had been targeted. During a 12-day air campaign last year, the same facility was struck during another round of fighting between Israel and Iran.
Health Warnings as Air Quality Rapidly Deteriorates
As smoke spread through the city, health authorities warned residents about serious risks from the polluted air and contaminated rainfall.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society issued a public warning that the rainfall could be highly dangerous. Officials said the mixture of chemicals and soot could cause chemical burns on the skin and severe irritation in the lungs.
Residents reported burning sensations on the face and lips after spending even a short time outside. Many said the air felt similar to diluted tear gas. The polluted atmosphere irritated the eyes, throat, and skin.
Some people experienced headaches and breathing problems after driving or walking outdoors. Others described the sky above the capital as completely darkened by the smoke cloud.
Several residents said they could barely recognize their surroundings because nearly everything appeared coated in black residue. Cars, roads, and buildings looked as though they had been painted with dark oil. Because of the worsening air quality, some people chose to leave the city temporarily.
The thick smoke remained visible across the skyline for hours after the fires began. Emergency organizations also warned that breathing polluted air for long periods could damage the lungs. They advised residents to avoid outdoor activity and stay indoors whenever possible.
Escalating Conflict Expands Across the Region
The strikes on fuel depots happened during a rapidly expanding conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The attacks represent one of the most serious strikes on civilian industrial infrastructure since the conflict intensified.
According to reports, the broader military campaign between the countries has already caused heavy damage. Thousands of civilian structures across Iran have reportedly been damaged. These include homes, schools, and medical facilities.
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The Iranian Red Crescent Society estimated that around 10,000 buildings have been affected by the ongoing attacks. The conflict has also led to missile and drone strikes across the region. Iran launched retaliatory attacks toward Israel and Gulf countries hosting American military bases. Some of these missiles hit civilian targets such as hotels, airports, and residential buildings.
At the same time, Israel launched major military operations in Lebanon against the militant group Hezbollah. Officials in Lebanon reported hundreds of casualties since the fighting expanded.
Tensions also increased over attacks on critical infrastructure. Iranian officials accused the United States of striking a desalination plant on Qeshm Island, which provides drinking water to dozens of nearby villages. Both American and Israeli authorities denied carrying out that attack.
Shortly afterward, another incident occurred in Bahrain, where a drone strike damaged a desalination facility. Authorities there blamed Iran for the attack and said the strike caused material damage.
Desalination plants are essential across the Gulf region because they convert seawater into drinking water. Countries such as Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates depend on these facilities to supply water to millions of people.
Meanwhile, Kuwait reported another wave of drone strikes that damaged fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport. Officials said the attack caused damage but did not identify the source of the drones.
As these attacks on energy and water infrastructure continue, the impact on civilians across the region has grown increasingly severe. The toxic smoke cloud over Tehran remains one of the most visible signs of how the conflict is now affecting daily life far from the battlefield.
