A night 'thick with explosions' for Tehran residents

Insomnia, fear, and exhaustion gripped the capital Tehran, as many described scenes of panic and the fear of death.

According to Tehran residents, the bombardment of the capital on the night of 5/3 was the most intense bombing raid in a week of conflict. Through accounts sent via firewall-circumventing connections amid Iran's near-total internet blackout, they described it as "a night thick with explosions".

A reporter living in eastern Tehran recounted being woken by violent explosions. "For the past few days, I had managed to sleep, having grown somewhat accustomed to the explosions. But early this morning, everything became truly terrifying. Windowpanes rattled violently, and screams echoed everywhere".

"Tonight was the worst. I woke up to the sound of fighter jets, then bombs exploding right next to my ear. I truly thought I would die tonight", a resident recounted.

"Our area was not bombed, but I thought the ceiling might collapse on me and I would die. It pained me to see my beloved city ravaged like this", the reporter stated. This individual subsequently lost contact.

Zahra, a single mother and teacher living in central Tehran, expressed particular concern for civilians.

"This is the first time since the conflict began that I have genuinely worried about the Iranians around me. We are trapped between the Iranian government and a foreign power that seems to have accepted us as collateral damage", she stated.

Smoke and fire rise in the Iranian capital after an airstrike on 6/3. *AFP*.

Zahra grew increasingly fearful of the toll on civilians. "The initial schadenfreude quickly gave way to fear. If all of us are killed, who will be left in Iran?", she questioned, recounting that the night of 5/3 was an unprecedented experience. "I don't think I have ever lived through a night like this, not even in movies. I was truly terrified, especially with our limited access to information".

"If they don't stop immediately, Tehran will turn into Gaza", said Farzad, 36, who had left the city. "Now we can distinguish between the sounds of fighter jets, anti-aircraft fire, and missiles. At times, we stood together, watching missile trails streak across the sky".

Numerous messages sent to foreign contacts also described similar scenes of panic across the capital. A resident in western Tehran reported that the city was attacked by B-2 aircraft.

Smoke and fire rise in the Iranian capital after an airstrike on 5/3. *AFP*.

"Please ask President Trump if there is any plan to protect us while they attack military targets, because we are terrified. This morning's airstrikes, which truly felt like the most intense since the conflict began, must have claimed many lives", wrote Saeed, a Tehran University student.

Iran has recorded over 1,300 deaths since the conflict began. Iran has yet to announce Khamenei's successor, though Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader, has emerged as a strong candidate. President Trump on 7/3 signaled an intensified airstrike campaign against Iran, stating he was considering targeting "previously untouched" objectives.

Zahra holds anti-government views and had rejoiced when Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in an airstrike on 28/2. Many Iranians had taken to the streets in late 12/2025 to protest currency devaluation and hyperinflation. The Iranian government responded to these protests with drastic measures, resulting in over 3,000 deaths.

Tehran, a metropolis of 10 million people, is densely populated, with government and military headquarters often located near commercial and residential areas. This reality makes civilians vulnerable as the US and Israel expand their target lists to include Iranian government agencies, state broadcasters, and security and police headquarters.