Tehran shook under fresh Israeli airstrikes on Friday as the US-Israeli campaign against Iran entered its fourth week, with explosions rocking parts of the capital and thick smoke rising over the city.
Israeli warplanes targeted what the military called “infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime,” hitting sites across Tehran in a renewed push to weaken the leadership and its military capabilities.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared earlier this week that Iran faced “decimation,” and Friday’s strikes appeared to underline that resolve.
The attacks come amid relentless exchanges that began on 28 February 2026, when US and Israeli forces launched surprise bombardments on Iranian nuclear facilities, missile bases, and senior leadership compounds.
Those opening blows killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top figures, sparking furious Iranian retaliation through missile barrages on Israel and strikes on Gulf energy sites.
Iran has hit back hard, launching drones and missiles at neighbours including Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, while also targeting Israeli cities.
Reports indicate that Iranian forces briefly disrupted key oil shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, driving global oil prices sharply higher.
Gulf refineries have caught fire in some attacks, and civilian areas in Lebanon have suffered heavy casualties from related Israeli operations against Hezbollah.
In Tehran itself, residents describe nights filled with the roar of jets and the thud of impacts.
Smoke from struck fuel depots and command centres has blanketed neighbourhoods, forcing many to shelter indoors.
Rescue teams continue to pull people from rubble in damaged districts, though exact casualty figures remain unclear amid tight information controls.
The conflict has already claimed thousands of lives across the region.
The World Health Organisation reports over 1,800 killed and more than 12,000 injured in the early weeks alone, with hospitals in Iran and Lebanon overwhelmed and several medical facilities damaged in strikes.
Both sides show no sign of backing down.
Israel maintains its operations aim to eliminate long-term threats from Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes, while Iranian officials vow continued revenge and promise further escalation if the attacks persist.
As explosions echo through Tehran once more, the Middle East braces for what could become a prolonged and far-reaching war, with civilians on all sides bearing the heaviest burden.
