‘My daughter is under the rubble’: Inside Tehran as civilian toll of strikes rises
‘My daughter is under the rubble’: Inside Tehran as civilian toll of strikes rises
In the aftermath of an Israeli air strike, a mother clings to hope as she searches through debris for her daughter. For several days, she has waited anxiously for rescuers to uncover the remnants of her daughter’s home in Resalat, a residential area of eastern Tehran. “They lack the resources to free her,” she explains.
“My daughter is under the rubble… she’s afraid of the dark.”
This conflict, which has persisted for a month, sees Iran engaged with the United States and Israel, with strikes targeting locations tied to the regime. Yet civilians are bearing the brunt of these attacks, caught between aerial bombardments and the strict policies of the government that quashed protests in January.
BBC Eye has compiled exclusive footage from local journalists within Tehran, capturing the human cost of the conflict. The BBC’s access to Iran has been restricted since the war began, making independent accounts crucial. Eyewitnesses and visual evidence reveal a pattern of strikes on state-associated sites located in densely populated areas, resulting in severe casualties. The apartment complex in Resalat, once home to dozens, was obliterated by an Israeli strike on 9 March. Trapped beneath the rubble, a daughter and her mother were later found dead, while the father survived.
Another building across the street also collapsed in the same attack. A 55-year-old man, who resided there, recounted the suddenness of the strike:
“The blast came so fast… I was thrown across the room.”
He lamented the loss of everything, stating,
“I don’t have anything now… All my documents, everything, it’s gone.”
Local officials estimate that between 40 and 50 individuals perished in this single incident. Those displaced are now seeking shelter at a nearby hotel, as the man reflects,
“This was our life.”
Targeting Military Sites with Civilian Impact
The Israel Defense Forces attributed the strike to a military building linked to the Basij, a paramilitary group affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. However, satellite images from the following days indicate a broader destruction, with at least four structures damaged in rapid succession. While one site was confirmed as Basij-related, others appear to have been residential. Verified footage from the area highlights extensive damage, with blast effects reaching up to 65 meters away. Survivors describe multiple explosions occurring in quick succession, one of whom said,
“They hit three times… I tried to stand up, but the rubble came down on my head.”
Military analysts suggest the use of large Mark 80 series bombs, often equipped with precision guidance, by the Israeli air force. The Mark 84, the heaviest variant, weighs 2,000 pounds (907kg) and could account for the widespread destruction observed. Unexploded ordnance of this type has been documented in the city. The UN has previously warned against deploying such powerful bombs in crowded regions, citing risks to civilian populations. BBC Eye consulted two experts in international humanitarian law, who argue that deploying heavy bombs in a densely populated area may be both excessive and legally questionable.
Resalat is not the only instance of this. The Israel Defense Forces claim to have dropped over 12,000 bombs across Iran, with more than 3,600 specifically targeting Tehran. US Central Command reports striking over 9,000 sites in Iran, including police stations, Basij facilities, military universities, and checkpoints. Many of these locations are situated within bustling residential neighborhoods, amplifying the toll on ordinary citizens. On 1 March, an Israeli strike hit the