Kamal Ghorui
A fire broke out in Tehran on Sunday night after an Israeli strike hit the headquarters of Iran’s state broadcaster, as fighting between the two countries intensified following the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television confirmed that parts of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) complex had been struck, though it insisted it remained on air.Initial reports circulating on social media earlier in the day had claimed the broadcaster was hit, but these were denied before Sunday evening’s confirmation. Video footage shared by Iranian agencies showed smoke rising above parts of northern Tehran, where several government buildings are located. The strike came amid a widening US-Israeli air campaign that has shaken the capital with repeated blasts and left streets largely deserted as residents sheltered indoors. Witnesses described checkpoints set up across the city by the paramilitary Basij.
IRIB had previously been targeted during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June 2025, when explosions disrupted a live news bulletin and partially collapsed a studio ceiling, forcing presenter Sahar Emami to flee.Elsewhere in Tehran, the ISNA news agency reported that Gandhi Hospital in the north of the city was also hit. Footage published by Fars and Mizan showed debris scattered across hospital floors among wheelchairs. The Israeli military said it was not aware of strikes on the facility, while the US said it was examining the reports.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered forces to escalate operations. Speaking from Tel Aviv after meeting senior defence officials, he said: “Our forces are now striking at the heart of Tehran with increasing intensity, and this will only continue to escalate further over the coming days.”US President Donald Trump also claimed significant blows against Iran’s military, saying on social media that nine Iranian naval vessels had been destroyed and that further strikes would follow.Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks against Israel and US-linked targets in the Gulf, vowing retaliation for Khamenei’s killing. As smoke billowed over Tehran’s skyline, the prospect of a prolonged regional war appeared closer than ever.
