Tehran under attack after US–Israel strikes, 28 Feb

You wake to windows rattling and the low thud of distant blasts. That is how many in Tehran have described the days since Saturday 28 February, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian targets. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the opening wave, yet the air attacks have continued, reshaping daily life almost overnight. (time.com)

Two young Iranians we’re calling Salar and Kaveh told journalists that every hour now feels stretched. They described houses that shake, glass left ajar to avoid shattering, and a city where people step outside only for food or medicine. Most shops, they said, are shut; some cash machines don’t work; security patrols feel thicker than ever. These are personal accounts from inside a country where independent reporting is restricted and details are hard to verify during wartime blackouts.

One event cuts through the noise: the strike on a girls’ primary school in Minab in southern Iran. Iranian officials say more than 160 people, many of them children, were killed. The United States says it does not target civilians and is investigating reports about the incident, while human rights bodies have called for a thorough, impartial inquiry under the laws of war. Casualty figures vary, and confirmation is slow because access is limited. (aljazeera.com)

If you’re trying to picture everyday life, think queues for bread and petrol, shuttered shopfronts, and prices edging up for basics as supply chains strain. Residents in Tehran told reporters the city looks ‘empty’ and that venturing out needs an urgent reason; foreign correspondents note long lines and inflated prices for staples during the first days of strikes. (english.elpais.com)

Getting trustworthy information is a challenge. Iran has imposed sweeping internet shutdowns at points since January, and connectivity has been patchy during the current fighting. That means families struggle to check on loved ones and journalists cannot easily verify claims. People use VPNs-software that routes traffic through other countries to bypass blocks-but even these tools are being throttled. Treat any figures you see as provisional until multiple credible outlets confirm them. (aljazeera.com)

Residents also describe heavier policing and more checkpoints since the strikes began-an echo of what followed last year’s 12‑day conflict. Speaking openly carries risks inside Iran, so names in testimonies are often changed and details blurred to keep people safe. That’s why you’ll see ‘Salar’ and ‘Kaveh’ rather than real identities in many reports. (japantimes.co.jp)

To place this week in context, remember the 12‑day war between Israel and Iran in June 2025. Then, strike and counter‑strike battered Iran’s infrastructure before a ceasefire. Leaders on both sides now frame the 28 February action as larger and more decisive, with the White House and Jerusalem presenting it as an effort to degrade Iran’s military networks. For ordinary Iranians, comparisons are simple: this time feels worse. (time.com)

For students and teachers following from afar, here’s a quick reading guide wrapped into the story. Where reporting is constrained by blackouts, lean on organisations that publish their verification methods-think satellite imagery, geolocation and cross‑checked eyewitness video. Be cautious with single-source casualty claims and note when outlets write “officials say” or “we could not independently verify”. Those phrases are signals to slow down and compare. (theguardian.com)

Internationally, the United Nations convened an emergency Security Council meeting urging de‑escalation. Diplomats debated legality, with the UN chief warning of grave risks to civilians; the United States defended the strikes as lawful. In parallel, Iranian forces have launched retaliatory fire across the region, adding to fears of a wider conflict. (apnews.com)

Displacement is already visible. UN figures shared with reporters indicate that roughly 100,000 people left Tehran in the first two days after the 28 February strikes, many heading north to stay with relatives. That movement strains fuel, food and medical supplies outside the capital too, and it complicates any emergency response. (apnews.com)

Back inside Iran, communication tricks become lifelines. People schedule short calls when signals flicker on, pre‑write texts to send the moment networks return, and keep power banks charged. If you’re checking on family, avoid sharing sensitive details that could expose them, and use agreed code phrases for “safe” or “need help”. These are small, human tactics in a much larger crisis shaped by missiles and ministries.

And yet, amid fear, people still talk about hope. Kaveh told reporters it hasn’t faded; he believes a better future is still possible, even if it takes longer than he once imagined. Salar worries that none of them will be the same after this week. Both can be true at once-and as readers, we can hold space for their fear and their hope while insisting on careful facts and clear language.