Tehran – Since the outbreak of war involving Iran following attacks by the United States and Israel on multiple targets within Iran on February 28th, communication with contacts inside the country has become increasingly difficult, with many unreachable by phone or internet. NetBlocks, an internet monitoring organization, reports that internet connectivity has fallen to approximately one percent of normal levels since the end of February. Only a limited number of contacts remain accessible through messaging apps like Imo, Telegram, or WhatsApp, and even Instagram access is sporadic.
The escalating conflict has created a climate of fear and uncertainty for Iranian civilians, compounded by disruptions to essential services and concerns about environmental hazards. The situation is further complicated by a lack of reliable information and limited access to protective measures.
“I left the city after a building on our street was bombed,” recounted a single mother who requested anonymity. She stated she did not know who resided in the apartment building in her Tehran neighborhood. When the war began, a 42-year-old photographer initially believed staying home until attacks targeting Iranian officials could liberate the people was the right course of action. While, on the third night of the war, she was forced to leave the city with her child, seeking refuge with relatives in the suburbs. “We saw several rockets fall,” she said, expressing relief at being away from Tehran.
A growing concern in the capital is the threat of “acid rain.” Following Israeli strikes on several oil depots around Tehran, thick, toxic smoke blanketed the metropolis. Iranian environmental authorities have urged residents to remain indoors. The Iranian Red Crescent Society has warned that chemicals contained in the precipitation could be harmful to skin and lungs.
The attacks have not been limited to oil depots, with numerous other targets located in densely populated areas of Tehran. Civilians are particularly vulnerable during these strikes, lacking knowledge of how to protect themselves, as there are no warning sirens or bomb shelters available. According to the U.S.-based human rights organization Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRANA), as of March 8th, 1,205 civilians have been killed in Iran since the start of the war, including at least 194 children. The number of military casualties is reported as 187, with 316 additional deaths yet to be definitively classified as civilian or military.
Among the civilian casualties, at least 110 female students, aged between seven and twelve, were killed on the first day of the war in an attack on a girls’ school in the southern city of Minab. Separate investigations by The New York Times and the investigative platform Bellingcat concluded that the school was likely struck by the U.S. Military – an act that, if confirmed, could constitute a war crime.
“No party to the conflict is adhering to the rules,” stated Moin Khazaeli, an Iranian human rights researcher residing in Sweden since 2009. He added that infrastructure such as oil facilities in Iran are not automatically considered legitimate military targets, just as civilian infrastructure and residential areas targeted by the Islamic Republic in neighboring countries are not. He also argued that the Iranian government is failing to protect its own citizens. “There are no bomb shelters or alarm systems, and almost no information on how the public should behave – especially given the internet shutdown,” he said.
Khazaeli believes international organizations should ensure Iran opens access for humanitarian aid to its population. “More importantly, the Islamic Republic of Iran is responsible for what is happening. International organizations should push for a peaceful transition of power so that the people can decide for themselves how they want to live.”
Prior to the outbreak of war, conversations with Iranians – many of whom experienced brutal suppression during national protests in January – were filled with hope for regime change through the removal of key figures within the Islamic Republic of Iran. However, as the war continues, the prospect of a swift regime change appears to be fading. Many remain in Tehran due to work and livelihood concerns, while others fear the situation will worsen following the appointment of Mostafa Chamenei as the new leader of Iran.
The conflict began on February 28th with a joint U.S.-Israeli strike that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had held the position for nearly four decades, according to reports from NBC Chicago and Al Jazeera. President Donald Trump stated the operation aimed to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and “to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” as reported by the Council on Foreign Relations. Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at Israel and U.S. Facilities across the Middle East, including in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
The U.S. And Israel have reportedly struck approximately 4,000 targets across Iran, utilizing land, air, and sea-based attacks, according to The New York Times. The situation remains volatile, with ongoing strikes and counter-strikes, and the potential for further escalation.
As the war enters its second week, the immediate future remains uncertain. The focus will likely remain on the military operations and the humanitarian consequences for the Iranian population. International pressure will likely increase on both sides to de-escalate the conflict and allow for the delivery of aid. The long-term implications of the war, including the potential for regional instability and the future of Iran’s nuclear program, remain to be seen.
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