The headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting in Tehran was hit by an Israeli airstrike during a live broadcast Monday, setting the building on fire and knocking the network off the air for a short time.
Footage shows a female anchor speaking on-air on the state-run broadcaster as the bomb from an Israeli fighter jet struck. A loud boom was heard, shaking the camera and knocking out the stage lights as the anchor hurriedly left the desk.
Israel‘s defense minister confirmed the attack on the building, which houses Iran’s state TV operations, calling the IRIB a “propaganda and incitement broadcasting authority” in a post on X. Al Jazeera is reporting the anchor on the air at the time of the attack is Sahar Emami, referring to her “one of the most famous state TV presenters in the country.”
The IRIB said in a statement that “live programs were briefly halted at the IRIB News Network but returned to normal a few minutes afterwards.” It added that “it was not immediately clear if and how many personnel had been wounded or killed.”
Video online showed the building on fire.
Israeli officials and Iranian journalists on the ground confirmed there were evacuation warnings issued for that part of Tehran ahead of the strikes, which come on the fourth day of an Israeli offensive across Iran in response to intelligence that warned of Iran’s increasing nuclear capability.
The two countries have been trading bombing attacks using aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones since Sunday, with air raid sirens heard across Israel and civilians fleeing Tehran.
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