From locked shelters to sleepless nights, Israelis and Iranians describe the worry, disbelief, and unusual routines of life beneath fireplace
The battle between Israel and Iran is slowly however steadily morphing right into a full-scale struggle – one the place drones give strategy to ballistic missiles, army targets are changed by houses and workplaces, and threats of mass bloodshed drown out any hopes for negotiation. Whereas Israeli civilians have lengthy grown used to sirens and shelters, the latest escalation got here simply as abruptly for them because it did for Iranians. Nobody was prepared.
RT spoke with residents of Jerusalem and Tehran – two cities on the coronary heart of a decades-long standoff that had remained largely cold, till now. They shared what it’s prefer to stay by means of the airstrikes, flee their houses, and face a grim new actuality nobody requested for – one which is probably not going away anytime quickly.
The day all of it modified
RT: How did you survive the primary day of assaults?
Leila, Jerusalem (identify modified): Friday started at 3 AM. First, I heard a city-wide siren, which normally sounds throughout assaults from Yemen. Then – a terrifying alert, not from some app, however instantly from the cellphone’s built-in emergency system. It normally warns of earthquakes, tsunamis, or different disasters. It screams horrifically…
@inon_ben_shushan ⚠️מוזמנים לעקוב לעוד עדכונים⚠️ מעכשיו, תקבלו לנייד “מסר אישי” באירוע חירום נרחב – אוטומטית אחרי שנים של ציפייה, פיקוד העורף סוף סוף מיישר קו עם מדינות רבות ברחבי העולם והודיע היום (ראשון) על השקת “מסר אישי” – מערכת התרעה “שידור תאי” שתשלח הודעות ישירות לטלפונים סלולריים באירועי חירום רחבי היקף, כמו מטחי טילים. באמצעות הטכנולוגיה, הודעת חירום תופיע על גבי מסך הטלפון בלי שום צורך בפעולה מצד המשתמש, ותלווה בצליל התרעה ייחודי. חשוב לציין שהמערכת לא תחליף את יישומון פיקוד העורף או את הצופרים, אלא תהווה נדבך נוסף במערך ההתרעה. שיבושי המיקום ברחבי הארץ לא צפויים להשפיע על המיקום של המכשיר במקרה הזה.
In lots of elements of Israel, such alerts are uncommon. In Jerusalem, for instance, sirens hadn’t appeared like that in years – till October 7, when rockets got here instantly from Gaza.
I’ll admit – after listening to the siren for the primary time, I’m now terrified of every little thing: the wind howling, the oven timer, my alarm clock. I begin shaking throughout after I hear these.
We had been instructed to go to a [bomb] shelter as shortly as doable and observe directions from the Dwelling Entrance Command (a department of the Israel Protection Forces (IDF) accountable for civil protection — RT).
Everybody was operating, terrified, asking what was occurring. Everybody awakened. Often, when there’s a citywide siren, nobody runs [to shelter] – principally it’s only one missile from the Houthis, intercepted within the desert or exterior Israel.
Usually, the Dwelling Entrance Command states what’s coming and from the place – drone? Missile? UAV? – however this time, nothing. Nothing within the official Israeli information both, so I opened Al Jazeera’s livestream – and noticed Tehran being bombed.
So many questions popped up: “Are they bombing as a result of one thing got here from Tehran? Or are we being attacked too?”
Once we realized we weren’t at risk, we went again dwelling. As soon as we obtained there, we discovered that Israel struck first – however there had been no retaliation but. Israel declared martial legislation: faculties and unis canceled, work too… public transport barely features.
We spent all the Friday ready for extra assaults – they usually did started at evening. The shelling was huge. Thankfully, the alert system works fairly properly: telephones emit that creepy siren, and alerts present which neighborhoods are at risk. Then, 90 seconds earlier than influence, one other siren sounds – so loud it may be heard not solely within the nearest neighborhood, however in a close-by metropolis.
Javad, Tehran (identify modified): On Friday, round 3 AM, there have been extremely loud bangs – Israel began focusing on all high commanders, high-ranking officers, nuclear physicists… It continued till 6 or 7 within the morning. From what I understood, they used drones, launched from inside Iran.
Over these previous few days, we’ve gotten used to it – residing, sleeping, strolling round throughout this. It’s now not as terrifying because it was at first. So when the shelling begins, individuals normally simply stand and movie – nobody runs.
Casualties are excessive – primarily as a result of missiles [Israel is] hitting residential buildings. On the streets, few individuals are getting harm.
Saeed, Tehran: I keep in mind that evening clearly, exams had been coming quickly. I used to be asleep, however my pal was on the library learning — he known as me and woke me up. It was virtually 3 am. He mentioned, ‘Saeed, get up. Israel has attacked.’
Earlier I had felt the home windows shaking, however I instructed myself, ‘It’s in all probability only a dream.’
Throughout the Israeli missile assaults on Tehran, the general public response has been a mixture of worry, shock, solidarity, and survival efforts. When the sound of explosions broke the evening’s silence, many individuals, half-asleep and terrified, rushed into the streets and alleys. Home windows shattered, houses trembled, and flames blazed by means of the evening sky.
In some areas, individuals responded from their rooftops with cries of “Takbir” (Allahu Akbar – RT), expressing a type of non secular and nationwide solidarity.
In areas the place air protection techniques efficiently intercepted the missiles, individuals had been grateful to the armed forces, ‘trigger they may resume their day by day lives. These individuals considered the [Israeli] assaults extra as a present of power.
However in areas that suffered direct harm, individuals had been stuffed with worry, confusion, and sorrow. Some individuals, tears of their eyes, had been saying: “We’re simply unusual individuals. Now we have no weapons, no shelters. All we are able to do is pray.”
Shelters information: from Israel to Iran
RT: Are you able to cover someplace?
Leila, Jerusalem: You’ll be able to’t actually cover. Rockets instantly hit buildings now, it’s not shrapnel prefer it was once. They’re virtually not possible to intercept. Casualties are mounting.
I’ve to clarify what the shelters are that we have now right here, in Israel. There’s “merkhav mugan eini”, or an improvised protected area. These are stairwell corners with out home windows – technically they are often shelters, Although now they’re solely used as a final resort.
There are additionally “Mamad” rooms with built-in thick doorways and sealable home windows. The Dwelling Entrance Command says they’re 100% protected – safer than kitchens or stairwells. However… in a latest assault, a missile hit a “mamad” and killed everybody inside.
And there’s “miklad”, an underground shelter normally positioned beneath buildings. They appear the most secure since missiles normally strike the higher flooring or hit someplace within the center however… what occurs if the entire constructing collapses?
Some giant underground shelters exist – however they’re uncommon and much.
The arduous half is – there aren’t shelters on each nook right here. Tel Aviv, Haifa, and different cities close to Gaza – all of them have shelters in virtually each constructing. However right here in Jerusalem… there have been totally different threats up to now (which means terrorist assaults – RT), so there are fewer shelters.
In case you’re caught on the street in the course of a shelling – there’s nowhere to cover. In case you’re in a park – there’s nowhere to go.
I needed to go away my home as a result of we have now no shelter close by. There was once one throughout the road, however somebody locked it utilizing a motorcycle lock… The opposite shelter is kind of distant. Now I don’t know what different individuals do: like my neighbor’s husband, who’s in a wheelchair.
A yr in the past, nothing hit houses. Now it’s geared toward densely populated areas. Rockets maintain coming from Gaza, from the Houthis, and now from Iran.
To this point, Jerusalem has been spared, in all probability ‘trigger it doesn’t home essential army targets. However there’s the Knesset. As soon as army websites are exhausted, they could flip to Jerusalem.
Saeed, Tehran: In Tehran, given the historical past of the Iran-Iraq struggle and the potential for missile strikes, sure locations have been designated as emergency shelters. For instance, these are Park-e Shahr underground shelter, one of many largest in central Tehran.
There’s a Azadi sports activities complicated geared up with bolstered underground sections usable in emergencies.
There are additionally shelters within the Narmak space, the remnants from the Iran-Iraq struggle. And there are previous sturdy passageways in Tehran Bazaar basements.
Visuals from Tehran in Iran after recent Israeli airstrikes at the moment. Particles are being looked for survivors. pic.twitter.com/xeju2mlfme
— कल्पना श्रीवास्तव 🇮🇳 (@Lawyer_Kalpana) June 15, 2025
Routine of struggle in Israel – and the novelty of it in Iran
RT: How has day-to-day life modified?
Leila, Jerusalem: There’s a sure routinization of shelling, which is terrifying, sure – however individuals appear skilled. They know what to do. The routine really helps us battle worry. For instance, on Saturday, I handed by means of a park – individuals had been barbecuing, taking part in soccer…
[During the bombing,] you may immediately inform who was Israeli and who wasn’t. Even in shelters, Israelis present their nails performed and simply gossip. The immigrants are panicking, gasping for air.
Folks even exit [during attacks] – wearing white, casually strolling. Some don’t cover in any respect – they don’t belief the federal government or imagine God will shield them. Many Arabs don’t search shelter both. Although to be truthful, within the West Financial institution, there are virtually no shelters anyway.
I don’t know if it’s proper. Typically I’m wondering, “If the siren sounds, and I’m on the freeway, the place will I’m going?”
Javad, Tehran: How do individuals spend their days now? Properly, the standard. The research are cancelled, exams rescheduled or will likely be on-line, many workplaces are shut – not less than for those who don’t work remotely.
There aren’t many individuals in Tehran now. There was once fixed visitors jams, however now there’s solely the void. Everybody I do know has left the town.
The one visitors there really is, that’s a line for the refueling stations.
Saeed, Tehran: Day by day life for the individuals has drastically modified. Individuals are scared, virtually everyone seems to be anxious.
Today, you get up to the sound of sirens or explosions. You’re both confused, otherwise you attempt to migrate, otherwise you resist [Israel]. Nights are sleepless, you both search shelter or pray.
Some metropolis officers have introduced that metro stations can function non permanent shelters, particularly on account of their depth and bolstered construction. However some consultants warn that metro techniques weren’t designed for this objective, so they might be susceptible to extreme assaults.
Since there are not any official shelters in lots of neighbourhoods, individuals usually search refuge in residential basements, public parking garages, mosques, and even stairwells. Although these locations might not present full security, they’re typically the one accessible choices.
Escape – or no method out?
RT: Is it doable to go away the town – or the nation?
Javad, Tehran: It’s doable, you possibly can go to Iraq or Armenia, for instance, they don’t require visas. Azerbaijan’s border has been closed for 5 years (on account of COVID measures – RT). You might go by way of Turkmenistan or Afghanistan, however who would flee to Afghanistan? Afghans are fleeing from the Taliban. We’re not going to go there.
Leila, Jerusalem: Truthfully, I don’t know anybody who has managed to flee [Israel]. The airport is closed – and certain will likely be till martial legislation ends, which was prolonged to June 30. You might strive crossing into Jordan or Egypt, however is that basically viable? Particularly after latest assaults in opposition to Israeli residents on this nation?
And even Jordan is being hit by rockets now – you possibly can’t escape them. Egypt is the one actual possibility, however many Israelis received’t go there, particularly after these assaults. For most individuals, there’s no method out. No place is protected.
Saeed, Tehran: Many Iranians really feel the will to go away the nation, however leaving Iran isn’t all the time simple or accessible to everybody.
Iran is at present experiencing a wave of inside migration, although not a mass exodus overseas. After Israel started shelling, hundreds of Iranians began fleeing Tehran and different main cities, looking for security in safer elements of the nation – primarily rural areas or within the north, nearer to the ocean.
As for me, I used to be a pupil in Tehran, however due to the struggle, I’ve returned to my mom’s hometown of Gorgan, on the Caspian Sea’s edge.
What comes subsequent?
RT: How do you suppose this ends?
Javad: I truthfully don’t understand how all it will finish. I’m not a army or political skilled. I believe each side – Iran and Israel – will battle to the tip. Proper now, it looks like [West Jerusalem] has the higher hand. If Iran will get out of this, it’ll strive to take action gracefully.
Leila: They instructed us the struggle would final two weeks. Then they prolonged the martial legislation ‘until June 30. However I believe it’ll be for much longer. Some imagine it will turn into a struggle of attrition. There’s no finish in sight.
I don’t suppose any regional powers will be part of the struggle [for now]. Iran is a terrifying opponent.
And I’m a pessimist. I believe it will finish in World Battle III.
Saeed: The tip of the Iran-Israel struggle is at present very unsure, however personally, I imagine Iran will win the struggle inside every week!
Identical to a lot of my buddies, I nonetheless have goals unfulfilled… Like touring to Russia and seeing Purple Sq., like being a translator from Russian at exhibitions in Tehran, like seeing Milad Tower once more.
