Tehran is reeling under relentless US and Israeli airstrikes, with the death toll surging past 500 in what has become a harrowing escalation of conflict. As the war enters its third day, Iran’s internet has been completely shut down for over 48 hours, severing the nation from the world and stifling information flow.
Reports from the Iranian Red Crescent Society indicate at least 555 fatalities across the country due to the bombardments. Cyber watchdog Netblocks confirmed the prolonged blackout, noting it’s a government tactic reminiscent of past suppressions that masked human rights abuses for weeks.
While some US media report partial online connectivity, the overall picture remains dire. Fresh explosions rocked Tehran this Monday morning, with state media claiming missile barrages targeted the western city of Sanandaj, striking residential areas and killing at least three. Emergency teams sifted through rubble in devastated neighborhoods, as shown in footage from Tasnim News Agency.
In Tehran, a hospital in the northern part of the city was severely damaged overnight, forcing the evacuation of patients. Videos from state broadcaster IRIB captured the wreckage: shattered glass, debris-strewn streets, and the gutted exterior of Gandhi Hospital. Meanwhile, China confirmed the death of one of its citizens in the clashes, expressing condolences and revealing that nearly 3,000 nationals have been evacuated from Iran as of March 2.
Iran’s retaliatory strikes on US bases abroad continue unabated, but the mounting civilian casualties and communication blackout paint a grim portrait of a nation under siege. International calls for de-escalation grow louder, yet the cycle of violence shows no signs of abating.