Thousands Flee Tehran Amid Israeli Airstrikes, Causing Massive Traffic Jams

Israel has launched a surprise aerial campaign targeting nuclear and military sites across Iran, with the stated goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran denies. The Israeli strikes have killed at least 224 people, including military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians, while Iranian retaliatory ballistic missile attacks on Israel have resulted in 24 deaths. Tehran residents are fleeing the capital in large numbers, creating massive traffic jams primarily on the northbound Highway 49 leading toward the Caspian Sea, a region largely spared from conflict and popular for its mild climate. Iranian authorities have closed civilian airspace, making land routes the only escape option, and have converted subway stations, schools, and mosques into temporary shelters amid a lack of modern bomb shelters in the city. The ongoing attacks have caused widespread fear and disrupted daily life, with long lines for fuel and cash, rationing, and a tense atmosphere reminiscent of the Iran-Iraq war. Israel has warned civilians to avoid military infrastructure, and Tehran’s security forces maintain a heavy presence throughout the city.