‘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 heart of eastern Tehran’s Resalat district, a mother clings to the remnants of her daughter’s flat, her voice trembling as she calls out for her lost child. For days, she has waited in vain for rescue teams to clear the collapsed structure. “They don’t have enough people to save her,” she says, her tears mingling with dust. “My daughter is under the rubble… she’s scared of the dark.” The devastation reflects a broader pattern: for a month, Iran has been embroiled in conflict with the US and Israel, with strikes targeting regime-linked sites. Yet civilians, caught in the crossfire, face a grim reality as both sides escalate their operations.
Residential areas under attack
The war has brought a dual threat to Tehran’s residents. Air strikes from Israeli planes have hit buildings in civilian neighborhoods, while the Iranian government’s harsh response to protests has intensified the crisis. BBC Eye has compiled exclusive footage from local journalists, capturing the aftermath of these attacks. Without official access, the BBC relies on independent sources and social media to document the toll.
On 9 March, an Israeli air strike obliterated a multi-storey apartment complex in Resalat, killing dozens. A woman and her young daughter were found dead beneath the debris, while her husband survived. “The strike was so sudden,” a 55-year-old resident recalls, “I was thrown across the room. Everything I owned is now buried under the rubble.” He adds, “I don’t have anything now… All my documents, everything, it’s gone.” Local officials estimate 40 to 50 people perished in that single attack.
Analysis of the blast’s reach
Post-strike satellite imagery reveals four buildings damaged in rapid succession. While one was known to house a Basij military facility, the others appear to have been residential. BBC Eye’s analysis indicates that the explosion’s force extended over 65 meters, causing widespread destruction. Survivors describe multiple blasts occurring within seconds, with one recounting, “They hit three times… Maybe three or five seconds between them… I tried to stand up, but the rubble came down on my head.”
Military experts suggest the Israeli air force used Mark 80-series bombs, including the heavy Mark 84, which weighs 2,000lb (907kg). Unexploded bombs of this type have been spotted in the city, underscoring the scale of the attack. The UN has warned against deploying such weapons in densely populated zones, citing risks to civilians. BBC Eye consulted two humanitarian law specialists, who argue that using a Mark 84 in a residential area could be both disproportionate and unlawful.
Bombs raining down
Resalat’s tragedy is part of a larger campaign. The Israel Defense Forces claimed to have dropped over 12,000 bombs across Iran since the conflict began, with more than 3,600 targeting Tehran alone. The US Central Command reported striking over 9,000 sites, including police stations, Basij barracks, and military facilities. Many of these targets are embedded within bustling urban areas, compounding the civilian casualties.
“This was our life,” the man from Resalat says, as he shelters in a nearby hotel. “Now it’s all gone.” His words echo the despair of countless families who have lost homes, livelihoods, and loved ones in the ongoing aerial assaults.
