Israel has conducted a strike on the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network, with a TV presenter forced to run to safety during a live broadcast as debris fell.
The IDF posted an evacuation order on Monday night (local time), foreshadowing a planned attack. In the warning, the IDF said: “Israeli civilians do not get evacuation warnings before running to shelters. We aren’t the same.”
Sahar Emami, a TV presenter for the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network, was broadcasting live as an Israeli missile struck the media facility. A loud hit from the missile could be heard in the broadcast as power to parts of the studio was lost.
Emami said: “You hear the sound of the aggressor attacking the truth.”
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE
Emami rushed off-camera as the screen behind her cut out, and people were heard saying “Allahu akbar,” the Arabic phrase for God is great.
The broadcast quickly switched to pre-recorded programs.
Soon, Emami came back live from another studio and was seen speaking with another anchor.
She said that “bodies of reporters” were at the site of the initial broadcast, and images showed smoke and flames in the sky.
“It’s not the building that was bombed, it’s the freedom of speech and voice of truth that was bombed,” she continued.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz took credit for the attack on the State news organisation.
“The Iranian regime’s propaganda and incitement broadcasting authority was attacked by the IDF after a widespread evacuation of the area’s residents,” Katz said in a statement.
“We will strike the Iranian dictator everywhere.”
Video emerged online of the State news centre in the minutes after the attack.
– with Reuters, AP
