Tensions between Israel and Iran escalated sharply on Monday after Israeli forces launched an airstrike on the headquarters of Iran’s state-run broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), during a live news bulletin.
The strike, which targeted Tehran’s District Three where the IRIB complex is located, caused a dramatic interruption of the broadcast. Dust and debris engulfed the studio mid-transmission, forcing anchor Sahar Emami to flee on air as the screen filled with smoke. Moments earlier, the Israeli military had issued a warning concerning operations in the area.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed responsibility for the strike, calling IRIB “the Iranian regime’s propaganda and incitement arm.” He declared, “We will strike the Iranian dictator everywhere,” and added that the operation followed the evacuation of residents from the surrounding area, suggesting a premeditated effort to minimize civilian casualties.
Footage from the disrupted broadcast showed Emami abruptly leaving the studio amid chaos, as voices in the background shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is the greatest). The network quickly switched to pre-recorded programming before Emami reappeared from an alternate studio. She reported that casualties had been confirmed at the original site, where smoke and flames could still be seen.
IRIB later stated that four bombs had struck the building.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, condemned the attack as a “wicked act of war crime” and urged the international community to hold Israel accountable. He accused Israel of being the world’s foremost “killer of journalists and media personnel,” underscoring the growing risks faced by media professionals in war zones.
