Everyday people taken by surprise by overnight strikes and left wondering how to prepare for what may come next
As dawn broke over Tehran, firefighters and other rescue workers saw for the first time the full extent of the damage done by overnight Israeli strikes.
Among the first locations reached by responders in the capital was a 12-storey block of flats looming above a road junction and a shopping mall in the northern suburbs. A huge blast at around 4am had gutted two upper levels, showering debris into the street below.
It soon became clear why this particular floor on this particular block had been selected by Israeli military planners. It was the home of Ali Shamkhani, one of the country’s most senior security officials and a close aide of the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
Initial reports said Shamkhani, who is also a key negotiator in ongoing indirect talks with the US over Iran’s nuclear programme, was injured. But by mid-morning it was announced that the 69 year old had been killed.
