TEHRAN – The Iranian capital is in a state of chaos as Israeli airstrikes continue to pound the city, forcing thousands to flee while others take shelter in metro stations. With businesses shut, communications blocked, and no proper bomb shelters available, residents say they feel abandoned and terrified.
According to reports, over 585 people have been killed and more than 1,300 injured since the attacks began. Many Iranians have fled to the suburbs, the Caspian Sea, and even neighboring countries like Armenia and Turkey. However, the elderly, sick, and poor remain trapped in high-rise buildings, unable to escape. Powerless and isolated, families are struggling to keep in touch due to disrupted internet and phone services.
Metro stations have turned into makeshift shelters as people sleep on cold floors, clutching bags of essential supplies. Long lines at fuel stations have only added to the misery, with many being turned away due to rationing after an Israeli strike set Iran’s major gas field ablaze. “We don’t know if we’ll be alive tomorrow,” said Shirin, a resident caring for her elderly parents in southern Tehran.
Adding to the pain is the emotional and political conflict within. While some Iranians support change, they are disturbed by the destruction caused by a foreign force. “We wanted a people’s movement, not bombs deciding our future,” said one woman. Others simply want safety, tired of sleepless nights and the fear that each goodbye might be the last.
Despite official claims of shelters being opened, many remain overcrowded or closed. With no reliable warning systems or government support, residents are largely on their own. As a 29-year-old woman who fled the city put it, “Our lives matter too. We are not just news headlines — we are people watching our homes turn into war zones.”
The situation in Tehran continues to worsen by the day, with civilians bearing the brunt of a war that shows no signs of slowing down.