CNN
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It has captivated fear as Israel vows to continue attacking the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program, and has seen many escapes from major cities, including the capital Tehran, in search of safer areas.
Residents of Sadat Abbado, a wealthy region of North Tehran, hit by Israeli strikes, told CNN they had heard the explosion all night long. Like other Iranians who spoke to CNN, residents asked them to remain anonymous due to concerns about their safety.
The residents were confused as residents ran to the ground after smelling smoke from a nearby building where they were targeted. Families with young children had a hard time calming them down.
Unlike Israel, Tehran, the capital of Iran, does not have a modern bomb shelter. Therefore, the city must take advantage of tunnels, crypts or old shelters used in the Iran-Iraq wars of the 1980s.
“There were no shelter in Tehran, people went into the basement,” Tehran City Council Chairman Medi Chamran told reporters on Sunday, adding that Metro could be used as a shelter “in an extreme crisis,” but “the system needs to be shut down.”
A government spokesperson announced that Tehran’s subways will be open 24 hours from Sunday night to help people evacuate. She said schools and mosques are also open.
Elderly people in the Sadat Abbad building compared the terrifying atmosphere to an eight-year war with Iraq.
Iranian experts say that by attacking Iranian residential areas, Israel has either “beyond the Rubicon” or has passed a point of no revenue, and is inviting the same kind of attack from Tehran.
“We don’t support the Iranian regime, but we are opposed to Israel’s attacks on residential areas and civilians,” said an older male Tehran resident. “If Israel is opposed to Iran’s nuclear program and military capabilities, they should not target those regions and create another situation like what’s going on in Gaza.”
Israel destroyed the belt of Palestinian territory and expelled almost all of Gaza’s population in a war with Hamas, an Iranian ally.
For those still in Tehran, everyday life continues for now despite fear of the spread of war. Grocery shelves are stocked and previously arranged gatherings go on, but the drumbeat of the conflict is never far away. For those with cars, there is a long line to buy gas, with the purchase closing at 25 liters, residents told CNN. Cash points are working, but the amount of cash you can withdraw is limited.
Many of the people leaving the capital are heading north near the Caspian Sea. This is a more rural and isolated area. However, residents told CNN that the roads are very rocky and it’s difficult to move.
One of the family who didn’t want to name them decided to leave Tehran with two small children and older parents. They are concerned that the government houses staff and military leaders in highly populated middle-class neighborhoods, putting civilians at risk.
“I don’t want to leave the house, but I don’t intend to put my young children in this position,” the father said. “I hope that the US will step in to stop the attacks between the two countries.”
In Shiraz, in southern Iran, long gas lines form around the city. Residents also raise food, water and diapers.
Cars were seen all over town filled with families with suitcases and water tied to roofs, and many families set out for the countryside.
Meanwhile, residents said the night has become very quiet in Tehran. Many shops are closed and many people said they’re either leaving town or are too scared to go to work.
Israeli operations against Iran are expected to take “weeks, days, not weeks,” according to White House and Israeli officials, and have implicit US approval. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, referring to the country’s highest leader, vowed to “attack all the targets of the Ayatollah regime.”
Israeli forces on Sunday issued a “urgent” evacuation warning to Iranians living near the arms production facility, saying that being nearby would put their lives at risk.
In a rare in-person speech to Iranian people, Netanyahu urged citizens on Friday to “get up and hear your voice.”
“It is time for the people of Iran to unite around its flag and its historical heritage by standing up for freedom from evil and oppressive regimes,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
The Iranian regime is popular in its homes, with security forces continuing to crack down on opposition. Nevertheless, the calls of Israeli leaders were deaf.
Many of the people CNN spoke to didn’t even want to be quoted anonymously, but none of them expressed support for Netanyahu’s call for a rebellion.
“Israel underestimates our love for our country. The idea of bombing us, our homes, killing our children, and sending us on the streets is shocking. We want to live in peace, whether we like the regime or not.”
Some Iranians expressed their anger and insisted they would never give in to Netanyahu’s demands.
“Do you want the administration to be out of power? Absolutely. Do you want my city to be bombed by another dictator? Absolutely not?” Neda, a 28-year-old woman, told CNN.
“Don’t be fooled by fake news. The reality of what’s going on in Iran happens as an Iranian, who actually lived a family in Iran.
Iran is threatening to intensify its own retaliatory attacks if Israel continues to engage in hostilities.
The Israeli government said more than 200 rocket launches from Iran were reported overnight on Sunday, with at least 13 people dead in Israel, including three children.
An unofficial tally issued by related media in Iranian states said dozens of people across the country were killed and injured in Israel’s strike. Iranian authorities have not yet declared the number of deaths.