Israeli forces launched their most intensive bombardment yet of Iran’s capital on Monday, targeting the infamous Evin prison in northern Tehran – what some consider to be a symbol of the Iranian regime’s repressive apparatus.
This escalation comes just 24 hours after the United States formally entered the conflict, with American B-2 stealth bombers dropping massive 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs on Iran’s underground nuclear facilities.
The attack on Evin prison, which has housed political dissidents and foreign detainees since the 1979 revolution, was confirmed through verified footage showing rescue workers combing through the flattened wreckage while carrying injured victims on stretchers.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB aired scenes of the devastation, while the judiciary-linked Mizan news outlet reported emergency measures were being implemented to protect remaining inmates.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stoked tensions further by posting a video on social media platform X showing explosions at a building identified as the prison entrance, accompanied by the caption “Viva la libertad!”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed the prison strike was part of a broader offensive targeting Revolutionary Guard command centres responsible for Tehran’s internal security. “The IDF is currently striking, with unprecedented force, regime targets and governmental repression bodies in the heart of Tehran,” declared Defense Minister Israel Katz in an official statement.
Remarkably, global oil markets remained stable following the US entry into the conflict, with prices showing minimal fluctuation – suggesting traders remain skeptical of Iran’s ability to follow through on threats to disrupt critical Gulf oil supplies.
Conflicting reports emerged about the full scope of damage in Tehran, where approximately 10 million residents have endured nearly two weeks of bombardment. While local agencies reported strikes on a power station near Evin prison caused electricity outages in parts of the capital, Iranian authorities denied claims that nearby Shahid Beheshti University sustained damage.
The attack on Evin prison carries profound symbolic weight, as the facility has long served as the Islamic Republic’s primary detention centre for political prisoners and has been the site of numerous executions that galvanised opposition movements. Several high-profile foreign nationals are also believed to be held at the complex.
This latest escalation occurs amid heightened rhetoric from Washington, with President Donald Trump openly musing about overthrowing the Iranian government following Sunday’s massive airstrikes on nuclear facilities.
Tehran has repeatedly threatened retaliation against the US but had yet to mount any significant counterstrike as of Monday evening.