Israel Bombs Iranian State TV Hqrs, Forces Anchor To Take Cover

Tehran, New Delhi: An anchor who was doing her live broadcast was forced to take cover after Israel on Monday attacked the headquarters of Iranian state media, IRIB, in Tehran, as tensions between the long-time regional foes escalated.
Iranian state media captured the visual of IRIB engulfed in thick plumes of black smoke following the attack by Israel. A video captured the aftermath of the Israeli strike on IRIB headquarters, with debris strewn all over the complex.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the attack by its military on Iranian state TV headquarters.
“The Iranian regime’s propaganda and incitement broadcasting authority was attacked by the IDF after a widespread evacuation of residents in the area. We will defeat the Iranian dictator everywhere,” he said.
Earlier, Israel had also struck a military base in western Tehran and explosions were heard in several parts of the Iranian capital, Iran’s Far news agency reported.
The Israeli military had asked civilians in Tehran to evacuate as it struck military targets in the Iranian capital.
Lashing out at Iran, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said Israeli civilians do not get evacuation warnings before running to shelters, adding that it had published a warning in Farsi for the citizens of Tehran.
According to Iranian state media, Tehran was preparing for the “largest and most intense missile attack in history” on Israeli soil.
The Israeli Air Force also conducted a precise strike based on intelligence targeting a communication centre that was being used for military purposes by the Iranian armed forces.
The building was used by the Iranian armed forces under the guise of civilian activity, covering up the military use of the centre’s infrastructure and assets.
“Prior to the strike, the IDF provided an effective advanced warning to the civilian population, including phone calls, to mitigate harm to civilians as far as feasible,” the IDF wrote on X.
Early on Monday, Iranian missiles struck major Israeli cities as fighting continued for the fourth day, killing eight people as fears grew over a full-blown war in the region, which has already been grappling with the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
Sirens were sounded across northern Israel as Iranian missiles struck several places in the Jewish nation, the IDF said.
Israel began bombing Iran under Operation Rising Lion on June 13, saying Tehran was on the verge of building a nuclear bomb and targeting the nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
In retaliation, Iran fired roughly 200 ballistic missiles and drones at Israeli targets in four waves. Israel claimed most were intercepted, with help from US defence systems.
Amid the conflict, Iran said its Parliament was preparing a bill to leave the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), adding that Tehran remained opposed to developing weapons of mass destruction.
Iran has always said its nuclear programme is peaceful, although the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, declared last week that Tehran was in violation of its NPT obligations.
Israel is presumed to have a sizable nuclear arsenal, but neither confirms nor denies it. It is the only Middle Eastern state that has not signed the NPT.
The G7 leaders, in a draft statement, have called for de-escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran, asserting that Tel Aviv has the right to defend itself while Tehran can’t have nuclear weapons, sources quoted as saying in International media reports.