Watch: Iranian state TV anchor ducks for cover amid Israeli airstrike

Iranian news anchor rushes off camera after Israeli missile strike

Iran’s state-run news agency was forced to pause a live news broadcast on Monday, June 16, after a reported Israeli strike hit the studio, according to Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). (Credit: IRIB News via Storyful)

Terrifying footage showed an Iranian state TV anchor ducking for cover after an Israeli strike hit during a live broadcast. 

What happened? 

Dig deeper:

Sahar Emami, an anchor at the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network, was seen hurrying off-camera as the screen behind her cut out. People on set were heard saying "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for God is great.

The broadcast quickly switched to pre-recorded programs. Soon, Emami came back live from another studio and was seen speaking with another anchor. She said "bodies of reporters" were at the site of the initial broadcast, and images showed smoke and flames in the sky. The station later said that the building was hit by four bombs.

Israel’s defense minister took immediate credit for the attack.

Before and after images after an Israeli missile strike hits an Iranian news studio. (Credit: IRIB News via Storyful)

What they're saying:

"The Iranian regime’s propaganda and incitement broadcasting authority was attacked by the IDF after a widespread evacuation of the area’s residents," Israel Katz said in a statement. "We will strike the Iranian dictator everywhere."

Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesman for the Iranian foreign minister, condemned the strike, calling on the international community to demand justice from Israel for its attack on the media. "The world is watching: targeting Iran’s news agency #IRIB ’s office during live broadcast is a wicked act of war crime," Baqaei wrote on X.

Israel, Iran conflict

The backstory:

The latest conflict began when Israel launched an assault on Iran’s top military leaders, uranium enrichment sites and nuclear scientists that it said was necessary to prevent its longtime adversary from getting any closer to building an atomic weapon.

Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful, and the U.S. and others have assessed that Tehran has not pursued a nuclear weapon since 2003. But the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly warned that the country has enough enriched uranium to make several nuclear bombs if it chooses to do so.

Iran has retaliated by firing waves of ballistic missiles at Israel. The back-and-forth has raised concerns about all-out war between the countries and propelled the region, already on edge, into even greater upheaval.