In what could be seen as a dramatic escalation of tensions, Israel on Monday bombed the headquarters of Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, interrupting a live television broadcast.
Naija News gathered that the airstrike, which targeted the IRIB’s main building in Tehran’s District Three, comes amid heightened hostilities between the two nations and follows a pattern of Israeli strikes on media facilities in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.
During the live transmission, renowned anchor Sahar Emami was delivering a commentary when an explosion went off, filling the studio with smoke and debris.
“Aggression against the homeland… and the truth,” Emami declared before fleeing the scene, as a voice in the background cried, “God is greatest.”
Though visibly shaken, Emami reportedly returned on air shortly after the blast.
Moments before the attack, the Israeli military had issued a warning for the area.
Defence Minister Israel Katz later confirmed the operation and issued a stark statement: “The Iranian propaganda and incitement mouthpiece is on its way to disappear.”
A statement by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said the facility was being used for military purposes under the guise of civilian broadcasting, although no evidence was presented.
Reacting swiftly, Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned the strike as a “wicked act” and a war crime.
“The UNSC must act now to stop the genocidal aggressor from committing further atrocities against our people,” Baghaei posted on X (formerly Twitter).
He also labelled Israel the “number one killer of journalists and media people”, citing a rising toll of press casualties in the region.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed outrage, noting that 178 journalists have been killed in Gaza by Israeli forces since October 2023—making it the deadliest period for the media ever recorded.
“We are appalled by Israel’s attack on Iranian state TV… This bloodshed must end now,” the CPJ stated on X.
The group added that a lack of accountability for previous media-related killings had emboldened further attacks.
Peyman Jebelli, head of IRIB, linked the bombing to the broadcaster’s strategic role in Iran’s ongoing “hybrid war” with Israel.
“Iranian media are precisely targeting the depth of the enemy’s media strategy,” Jebelli told Mehr News Agency.
“Employees at the national media outlet loudly declare their determination to play their roles.”
Iranian journalist Younes Shadlou, reporting live from the scene, said he feared many of his colleagues were still inside the building when it was hit.
“We had been given evacuation warnings, but everyone stayed until the very last moment to show the true face of the Zionist regime to the world,” Shadlou said.
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