As Israeli Air Strikes Intensify, Iran TV Studio Hit During Live Bulletin
Missiles have been raining from the skies across most of Iran, especially its capital, Tehran, as Israel has claimed “total air superiority” over the gulf nation as hostilities grow exponentially between the two arch rivals. In one such attack, an Israeli missile hit an Iranian State news broadcast station.
Dramatic visuals have emerged online, showing a missile strike hitting the compound of the Iran State TV studio. The anchor, Sahar Imami, who was midway through the bulletin, had to get up and leave as the entire studio shook with the impact of the missile. Chants of “Allah-hu-Akbar” can be heard in the background as she manages to escape.
Local reports in Tehran suggest that Ms Imami and the staff at the studio are safe and injury-free. There are claims that she may have resumed her duty to report the incidents arising out of the conflict. NDTV cannot independently verify these claims.
Israel has said that it is well on track to achieve its objectives, as the conflict escalates and civilians in both countries run for cover.
There are traffic snarls on highways leaving Iran’s capital, Tehran. Vehicles were seen bumper-to-bumper for miles as residents abandon their homes, stockpiling essential supplies and heading to smaller towns to shield themselves from an Israeli onslaught, which Israel’s defence ministry had cautioned about following Iran’s ballistic missile attacks on Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a statement on Monday, in which he said, “While there is no intention to physically harm the residents of Tehran as the murderous dictator does against the residents of Israel, the residents of Tehran will be forced to pay the price of dictatorship and evacuate their homes from areas where it will be necessary to attack regime targets and security infrastructure in Tehran. We will continue to protect the residents of Israel.”
Iranian authorities have rejected the Israeli defence minister’s message as “psychological warfare” and urged citizens not to panic, but Iranian State media later aired footage of massive traffic jams on highways heading out of Tehran.
Among those leaving Tehran amid Israeli airstrikes, are Indian students – hundreds of them. They are being evacuated to Qom, a city roughly 150 kilometres from Tehran. Some are being taken to other towns too, as Indian Embassy officials scramble to safeguard Indian nationals stranded in the battleground.
“We are on our way to achieving our two main objectives: eliminating the nuclear threat and eliminating the missile threat,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in comments to soldiers at the Tel Nof airbase.
Israel has said its military campaign will escalate significantly in the coming days. This came after Iran fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at two of Israel’s largest cities. Though most were stopped by Israel’s air defence systems, authorities confirmed that a total of seven Iranian missiles had struck Israeli cities. At least 100 people were wounded in the country.
