‘I just want to be able to sleep’: Attacks in Iran rock cities and cut power
‘I just want to be able to sleep’: Attacks in Iran rock cities and cut power
Over the past 10 days, relentless Israeli and US airstrikes have left Iranians in a state of fatigue and anxiety, with residents of Tehran and Karaj reporting continuous explosions that disrupted their nights and knocked out electricity. A man in his 30s from the capital described being plunged into “total darkness” overnight, while others spoke of intermittent blackouts or flickering lights. “I had no idea what was happening when the power failed,” he said, adding that the strikes left cracks in his home’s walls and made sleep a distant dream.
Strikes Target Key Revolutionary Guard Facilities
The Israeli military revealed on Monday evening that it had initiated a “broad wave of strikes” against terror sites in Tehran. By Tuesday morning, it claimed to have hit an underground weapons research center of the Revolutionary Guards, infrastructure linked to the Quds Force’s main headquarters, and other defense production sites. A second “wave of strikes” followed in the afternoon, intensifying the chaos. This campaign began on 28 February, following a joint attack by Israel and the US that triggered Iranian missile and drone strikes against Israel and US bases in the Middle East.
Casualty Toll and Restricted Reporting
According to the US-based Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRANA), at least 1,761 people have died in Iran since the conflict escalated, including 1,245 civilians—194 of whom are children. However, access to the country for journalists remains tightly controlled, and the BBC has not independently confirmed these figures. Internet connectivity is nearly nonexistent in Iran, but BBC Persian continues to receive accounts from residents, who remain unnamed for safety.
Residents’ Accounts of Darkness and Distrust
A Tehran resident in his 30s recounted the night of explosions as “a time of complete blackout,” leaving him disoriented. “The strikes were relentless last night. All I saw were cracks in the walls,” he said. Another man in his 20s, also in Tehran, described the ordeal as “exhausting,” noting that “the places targeted are now dangerously close to us.” Meanwhile, a woman in her 20s shared that the explosions were accompanied by an unusual white glow in the sky, contrasting with previous nights. “Even if this lasts weeks, it’s better than enduring this system for a lifetime,” she remarked, hinting at broader aspirations for regime change.
Strikes in Karaj and Resilience Amid Fear
Residents in Karaj, a city 30 km west of Tehran, echoed similar concerns. A man in his 30s said the night sky was lit by a “blue light” during Monday’s strikes, as booms echoed across the area. “I’ll endure this as long as the regime falls,” he declared. A mother and restaurateur in her 50s, living in Karaj’s Mehrshahr neighborhood, described feeling “the shadow of death” near her home. “We stand firm to survive and to gain freedom,” she said, “even if we lose our lives in the process.”
Diverse Reactions to the Conflict
While some express hope for change, others voice despair. A Karaj resident in his 20s admitted, “I’m tired of this situation. The war feels overwhelming.” Another Tehran man, who was wounded during December and January protests, said, “Missiles are getting closer every day. I’ve already lost my eye to this conflict.” His words underscore the toll of the war, with many struggling to reconcile their suffering with the possibility of a brighter future.