Israeli warplanes struck the headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) in Tehran on June 16, causing the immediate disruption of live television transmission. The bombing occurred during a live news program, forcing the anchor to flee as the broadcast suddenly switched to prerecorded content.
Prior to the airstrike, Israeli authorities had issued warnings for civilians to evacuate certain areas of central Tehran, including the vicinity of the TV station, nearby security offices, and hospitals. Local reports indicate that the evacuation orders affected hundreds of thousands of residents.
According to Israeli officials, the targeted building served as a key platform for what they described as Iran’s systematic propaganda campaigns against Israel and other nations. Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that the attack was aimed at neutralizing the instruments used by the Iranian leadership to spread hostility and misinformation.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strike, calling it a criminal act and urging international organizations to intervene. Iranian sources reported minor injuries among television staff but did not confirm any fatalities within the building.
The incident took place as the wider conflict between Israel and Iran continued to escalate, with mutual airstrikes and missile attacks in recent days. Iranian authorities stated that the ongoing attacks have resulted in the deaths of over 220 people within Iran, including a significant number of civilians. Israel, on the other hand, reported dozens of casualties on its side.
The strike against the Iranian state broadcaster marks a direct attack on Tehran’s communication structure. Israeli leadership emphasized that operations will continue until what they consider to be hostile threats and propaganda tools are fully dismantled.
The ongoing confrontations have severely strained the region, increasing civilian casualties and putting further pressure on local infrastructure and emergency services.