In the wake of Israeli airstrikes and Iranian retaliation, Tehran residents find themselves trapped in chaos, with gas shortages and interrupted communication further complicating their escape plans.
**Iranians Flee Tehran Amid Escalating Conflict and Uncertainty**
**Iranians Flee Tehran Amid Escalating Conflict and Uncertainty**
As airstrikes shake the capital, residents confront disruptions and fuel shortages while seeking safety.
As the sun began to set on Sunday night, Meisam, a 41-year-old poet from Tehran, decided it was time to leave the embattled capital. He and countless others surged towards the city limits of Tehran, maneuvering through darkened streets thick with smoke from recent explosions. Roads were choked with traffic, forcing him to wait in line at a gas station even in the early hours of the morning, reflecting the panic consuming many as essential resources dwindled.
The escalation of violence began on Friday when Israel launched an unexpected military offensive against cities in Iran, prompting a swift retaliatory strike from Iranian forces targeting Israeli urban centers. According to Iran's health ministry, over 200 people have lost their lives due to Israeli airstrikes, with more than 1,400 sustaining injuries. In Israel, 24 casualties have been reported as a result of Iranian counterattacks, alongside approximately 600 injuries.
With the atmosphere thick with dread, the situation worsened on Monday as the Israeli military posted an evacuation order for parts of northeastern Tehran, citing imminent strikes aimed at “military infrastructure” in the vicinity. Many residents, lacking internet access due to widespread disruptions, may not have received vital alerts about the danger looming over their neighborhoods.
Complicating matters, gas station closures and severe fuel restrictions have been reported, and those stations that remain open are limiting customers to only 10 liters per vehicle. Communication services have been heavily interrupted, leaving residents scrambling for vital updates in an increasingly uncertain environment as they strain to escape from imminent threats.
The escalation of violence began on Friday when Israel launched an unexpected military offensive against cities in Iran, prompting a swift retaliatory strike from Iranian forces targeting Israeli urban centers. According to Iran's health ministry, over 200 people have lost their lives due to Israeli airstrikes, with more than 1,400 sustaining injuries. In Israel, 24 casualties have been reported as a result of Iranian counterattacks, alongside approximately 600 injuries.
With the atmosphere thick with dread, the situation worsened on Monday as the Israeli military posted an evacuation order for parts of northeastern Tehran, citing imminent strikes aimed at “military infrastructure” in the vicinity. Many residents, lacking internet access due to widespread disruptions, may not have received vital alerts about the danger looming over their neighborhoods.
Complicating matters, gas station closures and severe fuel restrictions have been reported, and those stations that remain open are limiting customers to only 10 liters per vehicle. Communication services have been heavily interrupted, leaving residents scrambling for vital updates in an increasingly uncertain environment as they strain to escape from imminent threats.
