TEHRAN (CONVERSEER) – Israel launched an airstrike on the headquarters of Iran’s state television station, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), during a live news bulletin on Monday.
The attack marked a significant escalation in tensions between Israel and Iran.
The bomb strike interrupted the live transmission, causing dust and debris to fill the studio and forcing Sahar Emami, the TV anchor, to flee on air.
The strike occurred shortly after the Israeli military issued a warning targeting Tehran’s district Three, where IRIB is based.
Israel Katz, Israel’s defence minister, took immediate credit for the operation, describing IRIB as “the Iranian regime’s propaganda and incitement broadcasting authority”.
Katz vowed to “strike the Iranian dictator everywhere”.
He said the attack followed a “widespread evacuation of the area’s residents”, signalling a calculated military action.
During the live broadcast, Emami was seen hurriedly leaving the studio as smoke and debris obscured the screen.
Voices on set were heard saying “Allahu Akbar” (God is the greatest).
The transmission quickly switched to pre-recorded programmes before Emami returned from another studio, reporting that “bodies of reporters” were at the original site and showing images of smoke and flames.
The IRIB later confirmed that four bombs had hit the building.
Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson of Iran’s ministry of foreign affairs, condemned the strike as a “wicked act of war crime” and called on the international community to hold Israel accountable.
Baqaei accused Israel of being the world’s leading “killer of journalists and media people”, highlighting the ongoing dangers faced by media workers in conflict zones.