Iranian Cities Endure Relentless Strikes as Residents Struggle with Exhaustion and Fear

Iranians are dealing with relentless strikes that have pummeled Tehran and nearby Karaj for the last 10 days, leaving residents worn out, traumatized, and yearning for relief. The attacks, carried out by Israel and the US, have triggered blasts happening “every few hours” throughout the nights, shutting off electricity to residences and leaving whole neighborhoods without light. Residents who spoke with BBC Persian describe a grim picture of damaged walls, brief power outages, and an inability to sleep or preserve any sense of normalcy. One man in his 20s captured the feeling gripping the capital: “I just want to be able to sleep tonight.” The strikes represent an escalation in the conflict that started on February 28, when Israel and the United States launched a joint attack on Iran, prompting Iranian retaliation.

A Week of Relentless Barrage

The relentless assault on Iranian urban centers has lasted a ten-day period of airstrikes, with Monday evening signaling the start of what the Israeli armed forces described as a “broad wave of strikes” against terror targets in the Iranian capital. The following morning, Israeli officials stated they had struck an subterranean facility used by the Revolutionary Guards for military research, facilities at the primary headquarters of the Quds Force unit—the Guards’ overseas operations arm—and several defense production centers. By Tuesday midday, another wave of strikes was initiated, illustrating the sustained intensity of the campaign and causing residents anticipating further strikes throughout the night.

The psychological impact on civilians has been severe, with residents reporting that explosions happen approximately multiple times daily, making sleep extremely difficult and leaving people in a state of perpetual awareness. Power cuts have heightened the anxiety, plunging homes into complete darkness at unpredictable intervals and leaving residents unclear about what is taking place nearby. One resident recounted suffering continuous strikes lasting 20 minutes at one point, while others reported electricity variations lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. The cumulative effect has erased any sense of normalcy, with residents unable to maintain daily routines or locate drive for ordinary activities.

• Israeli military forces struck Revolutionary Guards weapons research subterranean facility
• Quds Force headquarters and defense manufacturing sites hit multiple times
• Explosions happening at regular intervals throughout Tehran and Karaj
• Power outages leaving residents without electricity for extended periods

The Toll on People of Escalating Conflict

The ten-day bombardment has inflicted a devastating toll on Iran’s civilian population, with residents contending not only with bodily harm but also with profound psychological distress. Sleep deprivation has become a common problem among those living in Tehran and Karaj, as the constant threat of explosions and power outages generates an environment of perpetual anxiety. Residents characterize the experience as overwhelming, with one man in his twenties stating simply: “I just want to be able to sleep tonight.” The inability to rest compounds the trauma, leaving people exhausted, emotionally drained, and finding it difficult with the unpredictability of when the next strike might occur.

Beyond the direct physical destruction, the attacks have fundamentally disrupted the everyday routines for ordinary Iranians. People report losing all motivation to keep up with daily activities, with everyday tasks becoming futile or impractical in the context of continuous threats. The emotional effects extends beyond fear to include a feeling of powerlessness and hopelessness, as residents watch the impact zones creep closer to their homes with each successive wave of strikes. One resident voiced what many feel: “I just want this to end once and for all,” reflecting the exhaustion and desperation felt across affected cities.

Civilian Losses Mount

According to information from the US-headquartered Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRANA), the toll on lives of the intensifying violence has been devastating. As of Monday, 1,761 people died in Iran after hostilities commenced on February 28, with at least 1,245 of those deaths being civilians. Among the civilian victims, 194 were children, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the bombardment and its devastating impact on Iran’s most susceptible groups. These figures demonstrate the harsh reality behind the headlines, depicting families destroyed and futures lost.

The actual toll may be considerably greater, as external confirmation remains very hard due to controlled admission for foreign media and the near-total shutdown of internet connectivity across Iran. The BBC has been incapable of independently confirming the figures reported by human rights organizations, and communications from inside the country have become steadily constrained. This communications blackout means that the true extent of civilian suffering may not be fully understood until much later, if at all. Residents themselves remain mostly cut off, incapable of sharing their experiences or access reliable information about what is happening in neighboring areas.

• At least 1,245 civilian deaths among 1,761 total deaths reported
• 194 kids included in civilian victims, suggesting indiscriminate strikes
• Independent verification not feasible due to journalist access restrictions and internet outage

Infrastructure Failure and Everyday Activities Disrupted

The continuous bombardment has methodically dismantled vital infrastructure across Iran’s largest urban centers, leaving residents without essential utilities and forcing the suspension of daily routines. Power outages have become a defining feature of life in Tehran and Karaj, with entire neighborhoods shrouded in darkness for lengthy durations. The targeting of infrastructure facilities has compounded the psychological toll on civilians, transforming ordinary activities like sleeping, working, and eating into challenges marked by instability. Residents report that the ongoing risk of strikes has made it extremely difficult to maintain any semblance of routine or consistency in their lives.

Beyond the direct physical dangers, the destruction of infrastructure has triggered a cascade of secondary crises impacting water supply, heating, communication networks, and medical services. Hospitals face difficulties operating without reliable electricity, while residents confront potential water shortages as pumping systems fail. The near-total shutdown of internet connectivity has cut off Iranians from the outside world and from each other, blocking the distribution of critical safety information and support networks that might otherwise assist communities in managing with the continuing emergency. This lack of information has intensified feelings of disconnection and despair among the population.

Power Outages Impact Large Urban Areas

Several inhabitants in Tehran noted enduring major power failures throughout Monday night and into Tuesday, with some suffering extended blackouts that persisted for hours. One man spoke of experiencing “total darkness” with little understanding of what was taking place outside his home, while others faced intermittent outages or power variations lasting approximately 30 minutes. The electrical grid’s vulnerability to strikes has left residents without light, heat, food storage, and communication devices—essential services that are now unpredictable. The uncertainty surrounding electricity access has added another layer of anxiety to daily survival.

Different Standpoints on the Continuing Emergency

As Iranian cities endure their tenth straight day of strikes, residents are dealing with profoundly different emotional responses to the constant bombardment. While some maintain resilience and expressions of survival, others are burdened with exhaustion and despair. The psychological toll of ongoing blasts—occurring “every few hours” throughout the night—has disrupted the mental landscape of Tehran and Karaj, leaving citizens navigating between hope and hopelessness. These divergent perspectives reflect the human reality of living under ongoing military pressure, where adaptive responses vary dramatically based on proximity to strikes, personal circumstances, and psychological reserves.

The contrast in how inhabitants interpret their experiences highlights the larger crisis unfolding across urban areas in Iran. Some people concentrate on the notion that they are still living, deriving purpose in mere survival despite mounting dangers. Others, however, have hit their limit where mere survival feels insufficient—they are yearning for everyday routines, sleep, and an escape from the ongoing state of heightened awareness. These competing narratives present a multifaceted view of a population pushed to its emotional and physical limits, where the definition of resilience itself has become contested and profoundly subjective.

Hope Through Struggle

One Tehran inhabitant in his early twenties expressed a resolute recognition of survival despite the mounting danger. “We’re still alive,” he stated, suggesting that simple endurance in the midst of danger constitutes a form of victory. This perspective, though marked by awareness that “where missiles hit is getting closer and closer every day,” illustrates how some Iranians are maintaining mental stability by focusing on what remains rather than what has been lost. Such remarks reveal an fundamental human capacity to find meaning in continued existence, even when conditions grow increasingly perilous and unpredictable.

This line of resilience, however delicate, illuminates how communities occasionally maintain stability during prolonged crises. By acknowledging survival as a success in itself, some residents are building a narrative that enables them to function despite daunting odds. Yet this perspective sits uncomfortably with the growing evidence of danger—the ever-closer strikes, the declining infrastructure, and the visible cracks appearing in residential buildings. The capacity to sustain hope under such conditions reflects both personal resilience and the desperate need for psychological coping mechanisms.

Tiredness and Doubt

In stark contrast, many inhabitants have succumbed to intense tiredness, with sleep deprivation emerging as their main issue. A young man in the city center expressed this distress directly: “I simply want to be able to sleep tonight.” Another person described how “every bit of routine I had is now gone. I either can’t do them or lack the drive to follow through.” These statements reveal how prolonged stress has undermined not just physical wellbeing but also the mental framework that permits people to sustain daily functioning. The loss of routine represents a greater deterioration of normalcy and individual autonomy.

The widespread fatigue extends beyond mere tiredness to capture a deeper existential weariness. One resident said, “I just want this to end once and for all,” expressing the despair of those who have exhausted their emotional reserves. The unrelenting character of the attacks—with strikes continuing “20 minutes in a row” at different times—leaves no opportunity for mental restoration. For these individuals, survival is not adequate; they are wrestling with questions about quality of life and whether continued existence under such conditions retains meaning.

Seclusion and Information Blackout

As Iranian cities endure sustained attacks, residents encounter an additional layer of vulnerability: near-total disconnection from the outside world. Internet service across Iran has been severely restricted, disrupting channels of contact that could normally offer reassurance, updates, or emotional support. This communications blackout intensifies the physical danger of the bombardment, making people cut off from loved ones, retrieve news, or communicate their situation with the wider global audience. The restriction essentially isolates residents to their immediate circumstances of the emergency, unable to verify what is taking place beyond their immediate surroundings or comprehend the wider geopolitical implications of the bombardment.

The intersection of immediate threats and informational isolation produces a distinctly unsettling environment. Residents cannot access dependable information about safe zones, strike patterns, or official guidance—forcing them to rely on hearsay, firsthand accounts, and fragmented information from neighbors. One Tehran resident described the terror of “complete darkness,” both physical and psychological, when electricity went out during strikes. In the absence of internet connectivity, even basic utilities become sources of anxiety rather than peace of mind. This imposed information blackout intensifies mental anguish, as people struggle to process trauma without news availability, expert support, or social bonds beyond their direct vicinity.

• Internet access largely limited across Iran since the attacks started
• BBC unable to independently verify data and occurrences from inside the country
• Residents compelled to depend on rumors and fragmented local reports