Israel intensified its military campaign against Iran on Monday, striking the headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) during a live broadcast, as the ongoing conflict entered its fifth day. The attack, part of Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion,” followed accusations by Israeli officials that Iran deliberately targeted civilians in missile and drone strikes, killing at least 24 people in Israel. Israel’s military also issued an urgent evacuation warning to approximately 330,000 residents in central Tehran’s District 3, where IRIB and key government facilities are located, citing imminent airstrikes on military targets.
The strike on IRIB’s fortified complex in northern Tehran disrupted a live broadcast by anchor Sahar Emami, who denounced the “aggression against the homeland” moments before an explosion sent debris and smoke into the studio, forcing her to flee. The broadcast briefly switched to prerecorded programming before resuming from another studio. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, condemned the attack as a “war crime” and a “direct assault on press freedom,” alleging Israel’s history of targeting media, including Al Jazeera and Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar. The Committee to Protect Journalists reported 178 journalists killed in Gaza by Israel since October 2023, calling the IRIB strike “appalling.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz justified the attack, claiming IRIB was a “propaganda and incitement mouthpiece” used by Iran’s military under civilian cover. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated the strike targeted a “communications center” linked to the Quds Force, an elite arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, and destroyed 10 command centers in Tehran, killing four officials, including IRGC Intelligence Chief Mohammad Kazemi. The IDF also claimed to have established “full aerial superiority” over Tehran, destroying over 120 surface-to-surface missile launchers—one-third of Iran’s total arsenal.
The evacuation warning, affecting an area with hospitals, police headquarters, and IRIB, sparked panic in Tehran, a city of nearly 10 million. Long lines at gas stations and traffic jams were reported as residents fled, with metro stations and mosques converted into bomb shelters. Iran’s Health Ministry reported 224 deaths, 90% civilians, and over 1,200 injuries since Israel’s strikes began on June 13, though Human Rights Activists documented a higher toll of 406 deaths, including 197 civilians. Iran’s retaliatory “Operation True Promise 3” targeted Israeli cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa, with a missile strike in Bat Yam killing three and injuring dozens.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the strikes have set Iran’s nuclear program back “a very long time,” targeting sites like Natanz and Isfahan, though Iran insists its nuclear ambitions are peaceful. U.S. President Donald Trump, attending the G7 summit in Canada, posted on Truth Social, urging Tehran’s immediate evacuation and warning that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon.” Trump also claimed Iran missed a chance to sign a nuclear deal, predicting a potential resolution to the conflict.
The attack on IRIB, a symbolic target tied to Iran’s government, has heightened fears of a broader regional war. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi vowed a “powerful response,” while the U.S., G7 leaders, and regional powers like Saudi Arabia and Qatar called for de-escalation. Pakistan, organizing evacuations for its citizens in Iran, rejected Iran’s claim of a nuclear pact against Israel, underscoring regional tensions. As both sides exchange threats and strikes, the conflict risks further destabilizing the Middle East, with global energy markets and civilian lives hanging in the balance.
