Bombed On Air: Israeli Airstrike Hits Iran’s State TV Headquarters

Israel carried out an airstrike on the headquarters of Iran’s state television network, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), during a live news bulletin. As anchor Sahar Emami spoke on air, the studio was suddenly engulfed in dust and debris. Cameras quivered, the feed cut to pre-recorded programming, and viewers watched Emami hurriedly evacuate the set.

The strike came shortly after Israel’s military issued a warning targeting Tehran’s District Three, where IRIB is located. Israel Katz, Israel’s defence minister, immediately claimed responsibility, calling IRIB “the regime’s propaganda and incitement authority.” He said residential areas had been largely cleared in advance, underlining that the operation was deliberate and planned.

Later reports from IRIB confirmed that four bombs hit the building. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, decried the attack as a “war crime” and urged the international community to hold Israel to account, accusing it of endangering journalists in conflict zones.