Tehran Endures Heavy Bombardment
Residents of Tehran say the Iranian capital has experienced the most intense bombardment since the US-Israeli campaign began, with waves of explosions shaking neighbourhoods overnight
One resident in eastern Tehran, speaking anonymously under the pseudonym Niloufar for safety reasons, described hearing continuous blasts early Tuesday morning.
“We are under heavy bombardment and I can hear back-to-back explosions,” the resident said. “The buildings are shaking.”
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The latest attacks are part of an air campaign launched jointly by Israel and the United States against Iran that began on 28 February. Israeli officials said Tuesday’s strikes included attacks on a weapons development facility.
Residents also reported widespread power outages and major communication disruptions across the city.
Health Warnings and Civilian Toll
Air pollution and environmental damage have also raised health concerns.
The World Health Organization warned that smoke and so-called “black rain” following strikes on oil facilities could pose respiratory risks to residents.
Officials urged people to remain indoors while air quality remains hazardous.
Human rights monitors say the conflict has already caused significant civilian casualties. According to the advocacy group Human Rights Activists in Iran, at least 1,245 civilians have been killed in Iran since the war began, including 194 children.
Elsewhere in the region, violence linked to the conflict has spread beyond Iran’s borders. Israeli strikes in Lebanon have reportedly killed at least 486 people, while missile attacks have killed 11 people in Israel.
The fighting has also affected US forces in the region, with seven American troops reported killed and around 140 injured.
Mixed Signals From Washington
The latest bombardment comes amid conflicting messages from US officials about how long the war could continue.
President Donald Trump said on Monday that the conflict was already largely complete and suggested it could end soon.
“The war is very complete, pretty much,” he said during an interview with CBS News.
However, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth signalled a more prolonged campaign.
Hegseth said military operations would continue until Iran had been “totally and decisively defeated”, adding that the timeline would depend on the president’s decisions.
“It’s not for me to posit whether it’s the beginning, the middle, or the end,” he said, suggesting further intense strikes were imminent.
Meanwhile, Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said American forces had struck more than 5,000 targets in Iran.
According to Caine, the campaign aims to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile and drone capabilities, weaken its naval forces and reopen shipping routes through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Iran Vows Retaliation
Iranian officials say they will not accept an end to the war until they have imposed significant costs on their adversaries.
Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s national security council, warned in a social media post that the country would not be intimidated by threats.
“The nation of Iran does not fear your empty threats,” he wrote, responding to warnings from Trump that the United States could strike “20 times harder” if Iran disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has continued missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, US military bases across the Middle East and energy infrastructure in Gulf states.
Attacks Across the Gulf
The wider region has also seen growing instability.
In Manama, the capital of Bahrain, an Iranian strike hit a residential building, killing one person and injuring eight others.
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates said firefighters were battling a blaze near petrochemical facilities after a drone attack, while both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait reported intercepting drones.
Despite the tensions, daily life has continued relatively normally in some places.
In the Gulf city of Dubai, residents reported that beaches, shopping centres and restaurants remained open, though tourism has slowed.
Four migrant workers have died in the UAE after missile debris fell in populated areas.
Growing Risk of Global Energy Crisis
Economists warn that the conflict could have major consequences for the global economy.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping channel connecting the Persian Gulf to global markets, handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.
Any sustained disruption to production or shipping through the route could trigger a major energy shock similar to the oil crises of the 1970s.
Rising fuel prices are already affecting consumers worldwide, while investors are closely watching whether the conflict escalates further.
For residents in Tehran, however, the immediate concern remains survival.
One local described the city as feeling like “the last stop before hell” as airstrikes continued to shake neighbourhoods overnight.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 10.03 2026