In brief
In the wake of increased military action in Tehran, residents face overwhelming civilian casualties as homes are leveled and families are shattered. The recent strikes have particularly affected areas like Resalat, highlighting the human cost of the ongoing conflict and the inadequacy of government response in protecting civilians.
A mother stands by the rubble, crying out for her daughter. For days she has been waiting for rescue workers to dig through the flattened remains of what was once her daughter's flat in Resalat, a residential district in eastern Tehran.
They don't have the manpower to get her out, the woman says. My daughter is under the rubble... she's afraid of the dark.
Since the onset of the war, Iran has been at conflict with the US and Israel, enduring strikes across the nation targeting regime-linked sites. These strikes, however, have devastatingly affected civilians situated nearby.
Civilians are caught between bombardment from the skies and a repressive government that has responded to anti-establishment protests with a ruthless crackdown. Exclusive footage gathered by BBC Eye reveals the impact of strikes from independent journalists inside Tehran, where the BBC is rarely permitted access.
The analysis has demonstrated a series of attacks on state-linked targets embedded in civilian neighborhoods, leading to deadly outcomes for innocent lives.
Military experts assert that the strikes using powerful munitions, such as the Mark 84 bomb, result in significant collateral damage in densely populated areas. The bombs not only obliterate intended targets but also extend destruction across surrounding buildings, affecting countless families.
Eyewitness accounts detail harrowing experiences of survivors; one man recalls being thrown across the room when a strike hit, losing everything he owned beneath debris. Local authorities indicate that between 40 and 50 fell victim to a single attack, with families left homeless now residing in nearby hotels.
Human rights organizations estimate that over 1,464 civilians, including 217 children, have been killed within the first month of conflict, intensifying discontent even among those previously critical of the Iranian regime. As airstrikes widen their scope, the residents of Tehran question the government's ability to ensure their safety amid chaos.
