The Israeli air force has bombed fuel depots, a refinery and a petroleum products transport and distribution site, all located on the outskirts of Tehran. This is the first time that Israeli-US forces have targeted this type of objective on Iranian soil.

A black, toxic cloud makes the air unbreathable in Tehran

The strikes, as reported by the New York Times, were concentrated during the night between Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 March. The Petroleum Minister of the Islamic Republic also confirmed the raids. Beyond the military objectives, the result for the population living in the Iranian capital is an environmental disaster. According to a statement by Tehran's Foreign Ministry, this marks "a dangerous new phase of the conflict and constitutes a war crime".

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CNN's Frederik Pleitgen reports from Tehran's Shahran oil depot, where thick black smoke rises behind him after a strike hit the facility. Iranian state media said fuel and oil storage tanks in several areas of the capital were targeted in Israeli and US strikes. CNN operates in

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The megalopolis, home to nearly ten million inhabitants, is currently enveloped in a dense black toxic cloud, a consequence of the fires that broke out in the depots following the bombardments. The blazes were particularly intense: firefighters had to work for long hours before managing to bring the flames under control.

The flames burned for hours: "I saw black rain falling"

Among the sites hit were in particular the depots of Shahran and Aghdasieh, to the north-west and north-east of Tehran respectively, as well as a refinery to the south of the city and another site in Karaj, to the west. According to the Israeli army, these sites were used to "supply fuel to the armed forces of the Revolutionary Guards".

What is certain is that, for now, it is the civilian population bearing the consequences. A weather front over the city triggered rainfall, and residents reported an anomalous phenomenon: "The rain that fell was black – a 44-year-old engineer told Time magazine. I couldn't believe my eyes. Even in Tajrish, miles and miles away from the fuel depots".

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Thick black clouds and oil‑saturated rain are shrouding Iran's capital this morning after major airstrikes hit refineries and storage sites south and west of the city. CNN's Fred Pleitgen reports. CNN operates in Iran only with government permission.

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A CNN correspondent on the ground also confirmed that the raindrops are saturated with oil.

In Tehran, residents report irritation, headaches, burning lips and throats

Everywhere, the population speaks of a nauseating smell of burning oil. Balconies, windowsills, streets: everything is coated black, making the landscape bleak and surreal. "It's as if a black blanket has been spread over everything. We have the feeling that the entire capital is dirty and sick," a woman commented, as reported by the American outlet.

"Today," the Tehran resident continued, "I was in the car for just fifteen minutes. Now I have a headache. The skin on my face is irritated and red, especially my lips. It burns, as do my eyes. And when I breathe, I feel like I'm inhaling tear gas. I keep needing to clear my throat".

The Red Crescent: "Risk of chemical burns and serious lung injuries"

The Red Crescent has issued an alert to the population of the capital and surrounding areas. In particular, it warned that the rainfall can be "extremely acidic and dangerous" — enough to cause "risks of chemical burns to the skin and serious lung injuries". As if that were not enough, the Guardian reports, citing the health organisation in turn, "the rain could seep into Tehran's dams, also contaminating the drinking water distributed throughout the city".

The smoke cloud is laden with harmful agents such as hydrocarbons, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. The mere inhalation of toxic gases, as the Financial Times notes, can be even more dangerous than contact with the rain. According to some experts, moreover, the consequences of the bombardments could extend well beyond Iranian territory: the winds could carry the toxic cloud towards Central Asia, and subsequently continue until it reaches China.