Israel Launches Massive Airstrikes on Tehran Following Trump's 'Unconditional Surrender' Remark

On the 17th (local time), Israel continued its large-scale airstrikes on Tehran, the capital of Iran, for the sixth consecutive day. The attack came immediately after US President Donald Trump urged Iran to 'unconditionally surrender', further escalating tensions between the two countries.

Iran, in response, has stepped up its offensive by announcing the deployment of the hypersonic missile 'Fattah-1' in recent attacks on Israel. Meanwhile, there has been a growing exodus of residents trying to flee the Iranian capital, Tehran.

According to foreign media outlets such as AP and AFP, a series of explosions, both large and small, were heard in Tehran from the early morning hours before sunrise, with a massive blast resonating throughout the city at around 5 a.m.

Earlier, Israel warned that it could strike areas south of Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport, where residential and military facilities, as well as pharmaceutical companies, are located.

The bombing followed President Trump's strong statements the previous day, urging 'unconditional surrender' from Iran and even mentioning a possible operation to eliminate Iran's supreme leader.

President Trump, who cut short his schedule to attend the G7 summit and returned to the US hurriedly, reportedly held a security meeting in the White House Situation Room to discuss possible US involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict.

He also took to his social media (SNS), urging Iran to 'Surrender unconditionally!' and declaring, 'We have now secured complete and total control over the airspace above Iran.'

Iranian leadership continues to vow strong retaliation against Israel. On the same day, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had used the hypersonic missile Fattah-1 in recent attacks on Israel.

In a statement broadcast on state TV, the IRGC claimed, 'We carried out the eleventh proud 'Promise of Truth III' operation using Fattah-1 missiles, and the Iranian military has completely secured the skies over the occupied territory.'

Amid these circumstances, the line of people trying to evacuate downtown Tehran is reportedly growing longer, according to the Associated Press.

Late into the previous night, explosions continued to be heard in various parts of Tehran, and most shops were reported closed, leaving the city largely deserted, according to the AP.

Ko Jung-sam, Hankyung.com journalist jsk@hankyung.com