More than 330,000 residents have reportedly fled Iran’s capital, Tehran, as Israeli airstrikes rock the city.
The mass evacuation follows a wave of powerful airstrikes launched by Israel under “Operation Rising Lion,” targeting military installations, missile depots, and even the headquarters of Iran’s state TV (IRIB) during a live broadcast.
The strike cut the broadcast abruptly and sent shockwaves through the capital.
Eyewitnesses in Tehran reported chaos and destruction.
“All we could see was smoke and broken glass,” one resident told media. “People were running, children were screaming. We thought it was the end.”
In response, Iranian authorities declared several parts of Tehran as “red zones,” urging civilians to evacuate immediately.
These zones include critical military and nuclear facilities, upscale residential areas, and key government buildings.
The strikes have also dealt symbolic blows, including the attack on IRIB, which Iranian officials called a “war crime.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for urgent intervention.
As conflict rises, Iran has signaled its readiness to negotiate a ceasefire, provided the United States stays out of the battlefield.
Diplomatic channels are reportedly open through Gulf states like Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, which are mediating between Tehran and Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile, international markets have responded. The possibility of de-escalation pushed global oil prices down by 4%, reflecting cautious optimism about a pause in hostilities.
Despite the push for peace, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains firm, insisting that military operations will continue until Iran’s nuclear and missile threats are “neutralized.”
“This is not the time for half-measures,” he declared during a recent press briefing. “We will finish what we started.”
The war, now in its fourth day, has already claimed the lives of at least 224 Iranians and 24 Israelis, with hundreds more injured on both sides.
Hospitals in Tehran and Tel Aviv are overwhelmed, and both nations remain under emergency lockdown.
