Arabic version: طهران تواجه قصفًا مكثفًا من القوات الأمريكية والإسرائيلية

Tehran, Iran – The Iranian capital has experienced one of its most intense nights of bombardment by the United States and Israel since the start of the war 10 days ago. Warplanes flew at low altitudes over Tehran overnight into Tuesday, dropping dozens of heavy explosives that shook neighborhoods across the city of more than 10 million people and frightened residents who have remained in their homes despite the danger.

According to Al Jazeera, local media reported that cities like Isfahan and Karaj were also targeted. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday would be “our most intense day of strikes inside Iran.”

Residents described the experience as harrowing, with one individual noting that it felt like tens of fighter jets were flying right above their heads for 15 minutes straight. “The ground and the windows and our hearts were shaking, but we took shelter in our bathroom and got through it,” said Sima, a 38-year-old who lives with her family in western Tehran.

Several Tehran residents reported seeing bright flashes of light from the intense aerial strikes that briefly turned night into day early on Tuesday. Some took to their rooftops or balconies to watch and record footage. Videos circulating online showed eerie flashes of blue light in some areas that appeared to be a result of power generation outposts sustaining damage from the bombing. Electricity was cut in some areas of Tehran, but the government said it was restored within hours.

The Iranian government has imposed a near-total internet blackout for an 11th day, leaving only an intranet of local services in place and the flow of information under state control. Virtual private networks (VPNs) and proxy connections are being sold on the black market, but the government hunts many down and shuts them off after short periods. The costs are also exorbitant, speeds are slow, and vendors offer limited-data connections.

As the Iranian New Year approaches on March 20, authorities are attempting to secure essential imports through barter with neighboring countries, with ongoing negotiations with the US being off the table. The conflict has left many citizens anxious and struggling to navigate daily life under the threat of violence and economic strain.