Breaking News: Chaos and Panic Grip Tehran as Airstrikes Shake City
This breaking news: the United States and Israel on Saturday launched an attack on Iran, setting off explosions across Tehran and strikes in multiple Iranian cities, and Tehran has answered with waves of missiles and drones at Israel and at several military bases in the Middle East where US forces operate.
Breaking News: Explosions in Tehran at about 9: 27am (06: 27 GMT)
At about 9: 27am (06: 27 GMT), Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported a series of explosions in the capital, Tehran; a correspondent in western Tehran said he heard two explosions, and videos shared on social media showed smoke rising from several parts of the city.
Strikes hit ministries, military sites and a school
Missiles struck several areas of Tehran, including districts that house key government ministries and military compounds. Iranian media reported strikes on the Ministry of Intelligence, the Ministry of Defence, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and the Parchin military complex; several missiles also hit University Street and the Jomhouri area of the capital. Mehr News Agency said at least two students were killed in an attack on a school east of Tehran.
Wider spread across Iranian cities and a deadly hit in Minab
Explosions and strikes were seen in multiple cities beyond Tehran, including Kermanshah, Qom, Tabriz, Ilam, Karaj, Lorestan province, Zanjan, Urmia, Bushehr, Damavand and Shiraz. In the southern city of Minab, an Israeli strike hit an elementary girls’ school, killing at least 51 people, state media said.
Isfahan’s role and past strikes
Isfahan, which was previously targeted in strikes in 2025 when military and nuclear-linked facilities were attacked, is considered a key hub for Iran’s ballistic missile programme, with production plants and research facilities in and around the city.
Retaliation at Israel and US bases, and a declared emergency
Tehran has responded by launching missiles and drones at Israel and towards several military bases in the Middle East where US forces operate; Iran has also attacked US bases across the region, and most of those attacks have been intercepted. Israel has declared a "special state of emergency". Multiple explosions were reported in the skies above northern and central parts of Israel, including in the Tel Aviv area and Haifa, where sirens have been sounding continuously.
Warnings, vows and the human toll
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said, "This operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated, " and added that "All US assets throughout the region are considered legitimate targets for Iran’s army. " Iran’s National Security Council has advised residents to leave Tehran amid fears of further escalation. Details of casualties and damage are still being collected.
A separate entry in the material is headed "Client Challenge"; unclear in the provided context.
The distances between the countries were noted in the material: at their closest points, Israel and Iran are less than 1, 000km (620 miles) apart, and the distance from Tel-Aviv to Iran’s capital, Tehran, is about 1, 600km (1, 000 miles). A map accompanying the coverage showed the locations hit across Iran.
More information remains pending; authorities and agencies are still collecting details of casualties and damage, and residents have been advised to leave Tehran amid fears of further escalation.
