In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Israel has directed hundreds of thousands of residents to leave the central region of Tehran, as its aerial assault on Iran intensifies. This move comes on the fourth day of an escalating crisis that sees both nations locked in a fierce military exchange. In a live broadcast cut short by explosions, an Iranian news anchor fled the studio, highlighting the conflict’s immediate dangers.
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a grave directive on social media, urging the swift evacuation of Tehran. He emphasized the necessity of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The President is reportedly returning to Washington from the G7 summit ahead of schedule due to the crisis.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims that the airstrikes have significantly impeded Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He maintains regular communication with President Trump and remarks on the weakened state of the Iranian regime. The Israeli air campaign purportedly targets key military figures and uranium enrichment sites, aiming to delay Iran’s potential nuclear progress. The strikes have resulted in over 220 fatalities thus far.
Iran, asserting its nuclear program serves peaceful purposes, disputes any weapon development since 2003. Meanwhile, retaliatory missile and drone attacks from Iran have claimed 24 lives in Israel and injured over 500, escalating fears of an all-out regional conflict.
Aligning with its assaults, the Israeli military instructed the exodus of around 330,000 individuals from central Tehran, which houses critical infrastructure such as state TV, police headquarters, and major hospitals connected to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. This mirrors similar warnings given in Gaza and Lebanon in previous Israeli military actions.
Iranian state TV, disrupted by airstrikes, reported that the network was attacked by bombs during a live session. This led to an abrupt switch to prerecorded content amidst explosions rocking the station’s building.
Israel announced achieving “full aerial superiority” over Tehran, claiming destruction of numerous missile launchers and fighter jets in strategic strikes. It further attacked command centers linked to Iran’s elite Quds Force, delivering what it described as a decisive blow. On the ground, one missile struck near the U.S. consulate in Tel Aviv, but no injuries to consular staff were confirmed.
Explosions in Tel Aviv, along with missile strikes on a residential area in Petah Tikva and Haifa’s oil refinery, have left parts of Israel reeling. In the Haifa incident, three workers perished as a building collapsed following the attack.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hinted at a willingness for diplomatic intervention by the U.S. to halt the hostilities. Despite this, planned U.S.-Iran talks collapsed following targeted Israeli strikes in Tehran. Araghchi proposed a cessation of Iran’s strikes, contingent on similar actions from Israel.
Amidst the conflict, airspace restrictions have left thousands stranded across the Middle East. The hostilities have so far wounded nearly 1,300 in Iran and led to fuel rationing. Human rights organizations claim the death toll in Iran might be significantly higher than reported, pressing for a more comprehensive account.
Prior to Israel’s military offensive, Mossad deployed precision weapons and explosive drones inside Iran, and subsequent arrests and executions in Iran reflect the deepening fractious spy versus spy confrontations between the two nations.