‘I just want to be able to sleep’: Attacks in Iran rock cities and cut power
‘I just want to be able to sleep’: Attacks in Iran rock cities and cut power
Residents in Tehran and Karaj, Iran, have shared accounts of sleepless nights and disrupted electricity following a series of strikes from Israel and the United States. The 10-day conflict has left many exhausted, with explosions reported “every few hours” and power outages creating chaos in daily life.
The Israel Defense Forces initiated a “broad wave of strikes” against terror-related infrastructure in Tehran on Monday evening. By Tuesday morning, they had targeted an underground weapons research facility of the Revolutionary Guards, the Quds Force headquarters, and other defense production sites. A second strike wave hit Tehran later that afternoon, according to military statements.
Since the joint Israeli-US attack on February 28, the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRANA) documented 1,761 deaths in the country, including 1,245 civilians, 194 of whom were children. Limited access for journalists and near-total internet restrictions have made independent verification of these figures challenging. BBC Persian has relied on anonymous accounts from residents to report the ongoing crisis.
Impact on Daily Life
Electricity disruptions have become a constant backdrop. A Tehran resident in his 30s described being “in total darkness” overnight, unsure of what was happening. “They hit hard last night. All you can see in our house are cracks in the walls. Sleeping has become the hardest thing for me,” he said.
“I was in total darkness last night,” a man in his 30s from Tehran said, reflecting on the chaos. “I just want to be able to sleep tonight.”
Others reported intermittent power fluctuations. A man in his 20s in Tehran noted the outages lasted around 30 minutes, while two residents described flickering lights. “Every routine I had is now gone. I either can’t do them or don’t have the motivation to carry them out,” another Tehran resident said.
Voices from the Ground
Some individuals expressed hope for change, even amid the violence. A woman in her 40s from Tehran lamented the destruction but added, “I hope it ends well for the people of Iran. I hope to see them [officials] gone.”
“Even if it takes a few weeks now, it’s still better than spending a lifetime living with this system,” said a 20-something woman, capturing the resolve of those seeking an end to the Islamic Republic.
In Karaj, a city 30 km west of Tehran, the effects were similarly felt. A man in his 30s described a “blue light” in the sky during Monday night’s strikes. “I would tolerate this situation as long as the regime is gone,” he stated. A mother and restaurateur in her 50s from Mehrshahr, Karaj, recounted a strike near her home: “We truly felt the shadow of death over our heads.” She vowed to endure, saying, “Even if we are killed, it honestly does not matter compared to the lives that have already been lost in the hope of victory.”
Not all voices were as defiant. A Karaj resident in his 20s admitted, “I’m getting tired of this situation. The whole war is overwhelming. Some scenarios for the future and for the people of Iran are truly frightening.” Another Tehran man, who was injured during December and January protests, described the proximity of missile strikes: “Where missiles hit is getting closer and closer every day.”
The relentless bombardment has left many questioning their endurance. “I am tired,” said a Tehran resident in his 30s. “I just want this to end once and for all.” As the conflict continues, the struggle for normalcy and survival remains a shared reality for those affected.