Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said he would advise residents of Tehran to leave, as the Israeli army issued an “urgent warning” to residents of a large district in the city to evacuate the area.
During a visit to an Israeli airbase, Netanyahu said: “We are on the way to achieving our two goals: the elimination of the nuclear threat and the elimination of the missile threat.”
“If we control the airspace over Tehran, we will hit these targets – targets of the regime.”
He accused Iran of attacking civilians in Israel, and added: “We say to the citizens of Tehran: ‘Get out of the area!’ – and we will take action.”
On Monday, eyewitnesses reported hearing explosions in the west of the metropolis.
According to media reports, there were also airstrikes in the east of the city.
The Israeli army called on the residents of a 30-square-kilometre district in the city to “urgently” leave the area.
The densely populated area includes embassies, shopping centres, and some of the most exclusive residential areas. It is home to about 300,000 people.
The Israeli military has many times issued similarly controversial calls for residents to flee during the war in Gaza.
Israeli strike hits hospital in Iran’s Kermanshah
Meanwhile, a hospital in the western Iranian city of Kermanshah was reportedly struck by an Israeli airstrike, Iranian media said on Monday.
A video published by the newspaper Shargh showed a damaged intensive care unit, with blood-stained hospital beds visible in the footage.
An Israeli army spokesperson stated that the reports are under investigation.
Under international humanitarian law, hospitals are granted special protection as civilian facilities and may only be targeted if there is clear evidence they are being used for military purposes.
Israel says its military campaign inside Iran is now in its fourth day, aimed at thwarting the country’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.