Israel strikes state broadcaster in Tehran, HQ burns into the night
Israel’s military confirmed it bombed the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) headquarters in Tehran on Monday, knocking its main news channels off the air and igniting a fire that continued burning late into the night.
Israel’s military said the strike targeted a facility used by Iran’s armed forces “to advance military operations under civilian activity.”
A video sent to Iran International showed smoke still pouring from the building after nightfall.
A sprawling and modern office complex, the state media headquarters oversees several channels and is viewed by Tehran’s detractors as a key pillar of the Islamic Republic’s control over society.
The building most affected was the Glass Building, the network’s central studio complex, named for its transparent walls.
The strike followed a public warning by the Israeli military’s Persian-language spokesperson, who called on residents of Tehran’s District 3 to evacuate hours before the attack.
An IRIB presenter confirmed that at least four bombs hit the broadcaster's compound. “The missile hit the office of [IRIB chief] Peyman Jebelli,” he said. “Jebelli was in the newsroom at the time and survived.”
The 21:00 nightly news—the Islamic Republic’s most prominent broadcast—was canceled for the first time in 43 years Monday night.
Earlier, IRIB announced its 20:30 bulletin could not air due to the damage. Multiple interruptions hit the News Channel’s live coverage, and the broadcasts were moved to alternative studios, but the extent of the casualties remains unclear.
An IRIB reporter said only several colleagues were injured. However, Hamshahri, a Tehran-based daily affiliated with the municipality, reported that several employees were killed in the attack.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz posted on X: “The Iranian regime's propaganda and incitement broadcasting authority was attacked by the IDF after a widespread evacuation of residents in the area. We will defeat the Iranian dictator everywhere.”
IRIB’s symbolic and operational role in the Islamic Republic made the strike particularly significant.
Following the on the IRIB headquarters, a surge of celebratory reactions flooded social media and Iran International.
Videos neighborhood captured chants of “death to the dictator” and “death to Khamenei” ringing out from windows around the IRIB complex.
The attack on the state broadcaster underscores a major shift in Israel’s strategy: targeting not just military infrastructure, but the ruling system’s institutions.