In a dramatic show of force, Israel bombed the headquarters of Iran’s state television broadcaster IRIB during a live news broadcast late Monday, in one of the most symbolic attacks since tensions flared between the two countries.
The explosion, aired in real time, forced news anchor Sahar Emami to flee the studio mid-broadcast. Footage showed her briefly pausing as the blast shook the building, then escaping through a smoke-filled set. The strike hit the IRIB’s central Tehran complex in District Three—a fortified media hub.
IRIB’s director, Peyman Jebelli, accused Israel of trying to silence the country’s media and called the bombing a war crime. Despite evacuation warnings, several journalists reportedly chose to stay, with some describing it as an act of defiance. Observers fear dozens may have been killed or injured.
Israeli Operation Targets Tehran and Nuclear Sites
The attack on IRIB was part of Israel’s broader Operation Rising Lion, which began early on Friday, 13 June. Israeli air raids targeted military compounds, nuclear facilities, and residential areas in and around Tehran. Among the dead were two senior Iranian commanders and multiple nuclear scientists.
Tehran’s skyline was rocked by explosions, with emergency services battling fires and rescuing survivors from rubble. Additional strikes hit the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, though Iranian officials later said the Esfahan and Fordow sites were not damaged.
Israel’s government said the mission was aimed at weakening Iran’s nuclear weapons programme and missile development.
Iran Responds With Retaliatory Strikes
Iran launched a barrage of missile strikes on Israeli cities late Sunday, targeting Haifa, Tel Aviv, Bat Yam, and Tamra. The attacks followed days of Israeli air raids on Tehran and marked Iran’s most extensive retaliation in years.
One major strike hit the Bazan oil refinery in Haifa Bay, killing three workers and disabling the power plant. Other Iranian drones were intercepted outside Israel’s borders, though exact locations remain undisclosed. Israeli schools closed on 14 June amid fears of further Iranian retaliation.
In Tamra, an airstrike killed four women after it hit a residential building, while in Haifa, blasts injured 15 people and caused extensive damage to homes and businesses. Authorities reported that more than 60 buildings across affected cities were damaged or destroyed.
Iranian state media claimed the strikes also targeted Israeli military infrastructure. The attacks prompted air raid sirens across central and northern Israel, forcing thousands into shelters.
International Reaction on Nuclear Sites
UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged maximum restraint and condemned the Israeli strikes, especially those targeting nuclear infrastructure while U.S.–Iran nuclear talks were due to resume.
The IAEA confirmed damage to Natanz but said there was no radiation leak. It warned against targeting nuclear sites due to regional and global safety risks.
Public Reaction: Netizens Weigh In
As the tit-for-tat strikes continue, social media has been flooded with divided reactions. Civilian deaths remain the top concern throughout.
Across both nations, a growing chorus online warned that further escalation could drag the region into a catastrophic war.
Continuing Strikes and Global Ramifications
Prime Minister Netanyahu has warned that military operations against Iran will continue “for as many days as it takes.” Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has raised concerns about possible contamination from the attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites, further heightening fears of environmental fallout and regional instability.
As Israeli and Iranian forces continue to exchange strikes, with no signs of de-escalation, observers warn the situation risks spiraling into full-scale war with dangerous consequences for the broader Middle East and the global economy.
Watch the videos here:
@trtworld Following heavy Israeli bombardment over Iran’s capital city of Tehran and its surrounding areas, the prominent Shahran oil refinery was struck and went up into flames. Officials in Iran noted the targeted nature of the attack but claimed the “situation was under control”
@trtworld Video footage captures the moment Iranian ballistic missiles struck the Israeli Defense Ministry building in Tel Aviv, in retaliation for Israel’s airstrikes on Iran on June 13.
@trtworld Video footage captures the moment a major explosion occurred in Tel Aviv as a result of Iran’s retaliatory strikes against Israel’s unprovoked attacks on June 13.
@curiousomair Iran Retaliation: Iran Fought back against Israel #geopolitics #Facts #explore #foru #fyp #Geopoliticsfact #History #israeliranconflict #israelvsiran #israeliranwar
@farsankinza
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