Tehran Residents Voice Fears Amid Ongoing Israeli Attacks

In the wake of Israeli missile attacks on Tehran, residents are grappling with fear and uncertainty over their safety and the potential for their city to suffer the same fate as Gaza. Many express a deep-seated resentment towards the Iranian regime while rejecting any foreign intervention.

As the conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies, Tehran's residents are left grappling with a heavy atmosphere of shock, fear, and confusion. Long lines at petrol stations and bakeries underscore the anxiety gripping the capital, where many are attempting to flee the city while others, like 21-year-old Donya, remain resolute despite the growing chaos. “Everyone is leaving but I'm not. My dad says it's more honourable to die in your own house than to run away,” she shared with an international news outlet, expressing her hope that Tehran doesn't share the fate of Gaza.

Since the unexpected strikes initiated by Israel, which ramped up in the early hours of Friday, over 220 lives, including women and children, have been claimed in Iran. Conversely, Israeli reports indicate that at least 24 people have died from Iranian missile fire. Amid escalating tensions, Donya and her peers find themselves torn between their disdain for the current regime and the reality of the assault from Israel.

“Strange excitement” filled one resident as she witnessed the deaths of high-ranking military officials, but this sentiment quickly morphed into sorrow as she learned about civilian casualties. Many young Iranians are expressing fears of severe repercussions, with confirmed reports showing damages affecting civilian infrastructure, deepening their unease.

Unlike the Israeli authorities, who provide warnings before attacks, Iran's citizens have no such comfort. As missiles rain down unpredictably, the sense of vulnerability is palpable. With the government advising people to seek shelter in mosques or metro stations, anxiety levels soar, especially when explosions disrupt the supposed safety of such locations.

The conflict has created rifts among the populace: some citizens choose to celebrate the strikes against military targets, while others express outrage over the civilian toll. “The situation feels like the first hours after the Titanic hit the iceberg," remarked a young woman, alluding to the discord among friends and family regarding the attacks.

In discussions with the Iranian diaspora, the shared concern is evident; while there's gratification in removing regime leaders responsible for atrocities, the collateral damage to civilians weighs heavily on their hearts. “We don't want Iran to turn into another Iraq, Syria, or Afghanistan,” one rights advocate said, encapsulating a widespread plea for peace against the backdrop of an unfolding humanitarian crisis.

As the situation remains volatile, many Iranians are left wondering what the next phase of this conflict will entail, solidifying their determination to prepare for all possible scenarios while longing for true freedom and security.