Live Updates: Israel Says It Attacked Headquarters of Powerful Iranian Military Unit

New York Times

3 days ago

Where to go? What to do? Is my neighborhood safe?
As deadly Israeli strikes rain down on Iran, these are among the questions desperate and confused Iranians are asking as they search for guidance. Amid swirling rumors and a dearth of official information, many Iranians have started relying on one another to share tips and safety information.
'My biggest concern is nothing other than radioactive leaks and the bombing of areas that have nuclear facilities. I haven't personally received any official guidance,' Ilya, 28, from the city of Karaj, near Tehran, said via text. Ilya asked to be identified only by his first name for security reasons.
The surprise attacks on Iran, which began on Friday, have highlighted the country's apparent lack of preparedness for war — including its paucity of shelters, bunkers or functioning air-raid sirens. Without much clear direction from the government, Iranian musicians, artists, chefs and influencers have been sharing infographics on social media with titles including 'What You Should Do if You're in the Metro During an Airstrike' or 'How to Speak to Children in War Times.'
Several people in Iran whom The New York Times messaged and spoke with said they were unsure whether to go to work or whether students should go to school — a fraught dilemma at the height of final exam season.
Many Iranians are unsure of what information they can trust and what to believe — regardless of whether it comes from the government or from unofficial channels.
'I keep seeing Instagram stories with guidance and information but they don't have a clear source and are pretty scattered,' Ilya said. He added:
'Honestly, I don't know which ones are accurate and which aren't, because it's all scattered and unclear, and everyone seems to have their own opinion.'
In family WhatsApp groups, confusion abounded. Many comments came from Iranian women who cited their experience during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, offering tips to distinguish the sounds of strikes from those of air-defense interceptions, to help inform their current situation. Other people have struggled to access the internet, with communication networks in the country increasingly spotty.
On Sunday, the third consecutive day of Israeli attacks, the Iranian government stressed that measures were being taken to protect the population.
'Mosques are shelters for all people, and starting tonight, the metros will also open so that people can have access to safe spaces 24/7,' said Fatemeh Mohajerani, a government spokeswoman, referring to Tehran's rapid transit system, which is mostly underground. In remarks carried by Iranian news media, she added that many schools could also be used as shelters.
It was unclear, though, how many people would be reassured. Long lines formed at gas stations in Tehran, the capital, and the city's roads were choked with traffic as terrified families scrambled to leave.
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The Israeli strikes that began on Friday have highlighted Iran's lack of preparedness for war.
Credit...
Arash Khamooshi for The New York Times
In Isfahan, a city in central Iran that has been struck by the Israeli military campaign, one woman, Farangis, said she tried on Saturday night to convince a friend to join her in leaving the city for a village further south.
'Just like last time,' Farangis, who is in her 70s, said she told her friend. That was all that Farangis, who for security reasons asked that only her first name be used, needed to say: Decades ago, both women had fled their homes when Iraq was bombing Iran.
But her friend refused, Farangis said, saying that she could not leave her children and grandchildren — who had 'school and work that doesn't seem to have been canceled.'