Iran says Israel's attack on its state TV building is a war crime
Iran has condemned Israel's attack on a state television building in Tehran as a 'war crime', and called on the UN to take action.
The strike on the offices of IRIB during a live broadcast was a 'wicked act' and a 'war crime', said a foreign ministry spokesperson. 'The UN [security council] must act now to stop the genocidal aggressor from committing further atrocities against our people.'
An Israeli attack hit the building as a presenter was speaking live, saying that the studio was filling with dust after 'the sound of aggression against the homeland.'
Suddenly, the sound of an explosion could be heard, and the presenter hurried off-camera as dust and debris appeared in the studio.
Cries of 'Allahu Akbar' ('God is greatest') could be heard off-screen and the broadcast abruptly switched to prerecorded programming. Live coverage resumed shortly after.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps condemned the attack, calling it 'inhuman, criminal and a terrorist act'.
After decades of enmity and a prolonged shadow war, on Friday Israel launched a surprise attack, saying it was targeting Iran's nuclear and military facilities. So far it has killed at least 224 people in Iran, including top military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians.
Iran has retaliated with barrages of drone and missiles that have killed at least 24 people in Israel, according to the latest figures from the prime minister's office.
Iran does not recognise Israel and has long accused it of carrying out sabotage operations against its nuclear facilities and killing its scientists.
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