Israeli air strike on Iranian headquarters in Tehran aired by Iranian TV
Title: Israeli Airstrike on IRIB: A Clash of Propaganda and Power
An unexpected moment unfolded on Monday night when the main building of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) in Tehran's upscale third district was hit by an Israeli airstrike. This shocking incident interrupted a live broadcast that journalist Sahar Emami, a news presenter on the state channel, was anchoring, criticizing the State of Israel at the time.
Did you know? Israel officially acknowledged the strategic operation in Tehran that led to the elimination of four leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
A video released by the IRIB shows Emami abruptly ending her speech and moving away from the camera just before the broadcast was cut off. Moments later, a missile struck the building, and some debris fell in front of the still-running camera.
Sahar Emami, born in 1987 and a journalism graduate of Tehran University, has been working at IRIB for over a decade. Known for her ideological alignment with Iran's conservative sectors, Emami has been a regular figure on nightly news and opinion programs with anti-Western content. She has been vocal against Israel, the United States, and Arab Gulf countries, often advocating for Islamic resistance, Khamenei's leadership, and Iran's nuclear program. Emami has previously faced criticism from reformist groups for her inflammatory rhetoric and dissemination of misinformation during internal protests.
Luckily, sources close to the broadcaster reported that Emami was unharmed and was evacuated along with other employees minutes after the bombing.
Following the attack, IRIB managed to restart its live broadcasts. In a televised statement, Hassan Abedini, a high-ranking official in the state broadcasting system, declared, "Contrary to what the Israeli regime thinks, the voice of the Islamic Revolution and Iran will not be silenced by a military operation."
This incident came shortly after a public warning from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who claimed that IRIB and other Iranian state television and radio were "about to disappear." Although the type of missile used was not specified, Iranian state media suggested it was a high-precision aerial attack.
The third district of Tehran, where the IRIB headquarters is located, houses sensitive installations such as a police building, hospitals, the office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), embassies of Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait, the offices of the French news agency AFP, and other key establishments. So far, there have been reports of at least five injuries but no fatalities.
In other news, Iran has expressed its desire for diplomatic contact with the United States to prevent a total disaster. The airstrike on IRIB signifies a marked difference between Israel's air supremacy in the current conflict and the war in Ukraine. Furthermore, Israel has targeted Quds Force command centers in Tehran and shot down eight drones launched from Iran. Israel's Prime Minister, Netanyahu, has emphasized Israel's control over the skies of Tehran and pledged to eliminate Iran's nuclear threats. The ongoing tension between Israel and Iran continues to create a volatile and unpredictable situation in the Middle East.
The Israeli airstrike on IRIB, a state broadcasting system in Tehran, has sparked intense political discussions, particularly concerning Israel's involvement in war-and-conflicts and their strategic moves that have been highlighted in general-news. Additionally, the incident has raised questions regarding crime-and-justice, as some consider Israel's actions as a breach of international laws.
