TEHRAN — A massive wave of joint airstrikes rocked the Iranian capital early Monday morning, marking one of the most intense aerial bombardments since the outbreak of the conflict on February 28. Sources on the ground report multiple secondary explosions and plumes of thick black smoke rising from several districts, including the western and northeastern corridors of the city.
The strikes, reportedly carried out by a coalition of U.S. and Israeli forces, targeted what officials have characterized as "critical terror infrastructure" and military-industrial hubs. Among the most significant hits was a facility at the Malek Ashtar University of Technology, a site long scrutinized by international monitors for its ties to the Ministry of Defense and Iran’s ballistic missile program.
While the term "university" often suggests civilian student life, intelligence reports indicate the specific target was a research wing dedicated to high-grade military technology.
The precision strike specifically targeted the research institutes within Malek Ashtar University, a facility long suspected of serving as a primary hub for the development of advanced missile guidance systems and nuclear-related components.
The bombardment resulted in massive structural damage to several high-tech laboratories, effectively dismantling key technical infrastructure. While the full extent of the human cost is still being assessed, unconfirmed reports have emerged of significant casualties among the university’s specialized technical staff and research personnel.
Separate strikes were reported near the Imam Hossein University, which serves as a primary training ground for officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The reach of the raid extended far beyond research centers, as residents throughout Tehran described a "night of thunder" punctuated by strikes on several high-profile targets. Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising from the vicinity of Mehrabad Airport, a critical logistics hub for the region, while confirmed strikes hit the Kouhak military base and a major IRGC compound located on the Artesh Highway.
The assault also crippled industrial infrastructure, with additional hits reported at a petrochemical facility and a cardboard factory; the latter ignited a massive blaze that illuminated the southern skyline for hours.
Iranian state media has condemned the "brutal aggression," reporting that the strikes hit residential areas in northern Tehran and near the notorious Evin Prison, causing "widespread panic and civilian injuries."
The escalation comes as the war enters its second month, following the assassination of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the conflict's opening hours. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively a no-go zone and global oil prices fluctuating wildly, the international community remains on edge.
"The scale of this morning's operation suggests a shift from tactical degradation to a full-scale dismantling of Tehran’s research and command capabilities," said one regional security analyst.