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June 16, 2025 – Iran/Israel –
Israel launched a targeted airstrike on the glass‑fronted headquarters of IRIB, Iran’s state-run TV station in central Tehran, during a live broadcast. The strike struck while anchor Sahar Emami was on air, causing the studio to quake with four explosions, forcing her and her colleagues to flee amid smoke and dust. After a brief cut to pre-recorded footage, the broadcast resumed from an alternate location.
The IDF issued evacuation orders ahead of the strike for District 3 of Tehran, home to media offices, hospitals, and government buildings, warning roughly 330,000 residents to clear the area. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated the operation aimed to dismantle Iran’s “propaganda and incitement broadcasting authority”.
The strike on a broadcasting center is emblematic of a broader trend. The National notes it mirrors recent Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon, where media personnel and infrastructure were also targeted, raising serious concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists in conflict zones. The Committee to Protect Journalists previously condemned earlier media strikes as part of this pattern.
Casualty reports vary. Iranian state media confirmed at least three deaths, including journalist Nima Rajabpour and administrative staffer Masoumeh Azimi, with more injured. Iran’s foreign ministry denounced the incident as a “war crime,” urging international intervention. Other Iranian officials reinforced this narrative, calling for global condemnation.
This attack forms part of Operation Rising Lion, initiated on June 13, aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear, military, and communication infrastructures. Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes. Casualties thus far exceed 224 Iranians and 24 Israelis, reflecting the severe human toll.
Reference –
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/16/israel-bombs-irans-state-tv-after-threatening-it-would
