Television channels showed thick black smoke billowing into the sky from the site, while the fire service shared photos of a tank on fire.

“The incident involves a fire at a tank containing 3,000 cubic metres of gasoline,” the service said, adding that the gasoline was being pumped out of the tank.

Firefighters were operating at the scene “where debris from an interception was identified following the latest barrage”, the service said, adding there were no casualties.

The incident occurred shortly after the Israeli military said it had detected new incoming missiles from Iran.

It was not immediately clear whether the refinery had been hit by debris from a missile from Iran or Lebanon or from an intercepting Israeli projectile.

Footage acquired by AFP, filmed shortly after the impact, showed a plume of dark smoke rising above cylindrical tanks.

AFP journalists who arrived at the scene around an hour later said the smoke had dissipated and firefighters were working to manage the fire.

The refinery in Haifa, Israel’s third-largest city, is located in a large industrial zone.

Israel’s military had earlier said “search and rescue forces, both reserve and regular forces, are on their way to a site in northern Israel where reports of impact have been received”, without specifying the precise location.

Israeli media said the site was also hit on March 19 when Iran fired missiles towards Israel.