On the 17th (local time), Israel launched a large-scale airstrike in key areas, including the Iranian capital, Tehran. This attack came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iran to make an 'unconditional surrender' and mentioned the possibility of eliminating the supreme leader, indicating that tensions between the two countries are reaching a peak.
According to foreign news agencies such as the Associated Press (AP) and Agence France-Presse (AFP), a series of explosions were heard in Tehran before dawn, and around 5 a.m., powerful explosions were detected throughout the city. Israel had previously warned that residential areas, military facilities, and pharmaceutical-related infrastructure located south of Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport could be targets.
Israel's airstrike was carried out immediately after President Trump's tough message. The day before, President Trump convened a National Security Council (NSC) meeting at the White House to discuss U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict and publicly demanded on his social media platforms (SNS) that Iran's supreme leader 'surrender unconditionally,' stating, 'We know the location of the supreme leader's hideout.' He also claimed, 'We have secured total control over Iranian airspace.'
Meanwhile, Iran is not lowering its level of attack either. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated in a statement that it used the hypersonic missile 'Fattah-1' in the 11th strike of the recent operation 'Promise of Truth III' targeting Israel. The IRGC claimed, 'We have completely taken control of the airspace over the occupied territories.'
As tensions between the two sides escalate, the evacuation lines for Tehran's citizens are growing longer. The AP reported that explosions continued throughout Tehran late into the night, most shops were closed, and the city is becoming deserted. Roads leading out of the city are filled with vehicles, causing severe congestion, and long lines have formed in front of gas stations.
A resident of Tehran told the AP in a currency that it seemed 'like no one is left in the city,' conveying a sense of unease.