The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued an unprecedented warning to Iranian civilians on Monday (April 7, 2026), urging them to stay away from all trains, railway lines, and stations before 21:00 local time. Shortly thereafter, a joint US-Israeli military operation named 'Operation Epic Fury' (also called 'Operation Roaring Lion') struck railway infrastructure, bridges, and missile facilities across Iran, marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict.
Airstrike Details: Railways, Bridges, and Petrochemical Facilities Hit
IDF spokesman Kamal Penhasi, a retired lieutenant colonel, posted the warning in Persian on X (formerly Twitter), telling Iranian citizens to avoid trains 'for your safety.' Minutes after the warning, train services in cities like Mashhad were canceled, and fighter jets struck multiple railway tracks, crossings, and bridges. Iran's official news agency IRNA reported that a railway bridge near the central city of Kashan was hit, killing two people and injuring three others.
The damage extended far beyond rails. The Karaj B1 Bridge, the tallest in the Middle East and a critical link between Tehran and western Iran, was struck multiple times in early April, causing between 8 and 13 deaths and 95 injuries, including a civilian who had gathered under the bridge. A highway bridge connecting Tabriz and Zanjan in northern Iran was also attacked and closed. The IDF confirmed it struck a petrochemical plant in the Marvdasht area near Shiraz, describing it as one of the only facilities still capable of producing nitric acid and chemicals used in ballistic missiles and explosives. The military said previous campaigns had paralyzed about 85% of Iran's petrochemical export capacity.
Large explosions were reported at the Parchin missile base southeast of Tehran, a key site for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), confirmed by both opposition-linked media and Iranian domestic reports. The IDF said airstrikes also hit air defense systems, drone infrastructure, a large ballistic missile position near Tabriz, and mobile missile launchers. In the same wave, explosions were heard at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport and Khorramabad Airport in Lorestan Province. Iranian news agency Mehr reported that a synagogue in central Tehran was damaged or destroyed, though Western sources had not fully verified this by the time of publication.
Trump: 'A Whole Civilization Will Die Tonight'
President Donald Trump commented on the situation Monday via his Truth Social platform, framing the night as a turning point. He wrote: 'A whole civilization will die tonight, never to rise again. I do not want this to happen, but I fear it will.' He continued: 'Yet, since we have achieved a 'complete and total regime change,' perhaps something revolutionary and beautiful will occur, allowing different, wiser, and less radical thoughts to prevail — who knows? Tonight we will find out. This will be one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the world. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death will finally come to an end. God bless the great people of Iran!'
Trump's remarks echoed the ultimatum his administration had issued to Iran over the Easter weekend regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. He had separately mentioned planned 'Power Plant Day' and 'Bridge Day' operations as potential next steps if Iran did not comply.
Iran Rejects Ultimatums, Risk Appetite Plunges
Iran has rejected the ultimatums, vowing a 'decisive response.' Iranian state media says the regime remains operational despite the ongoing destruction. Casualty figures from the large-scale operation range from hundreds to thousands, with the total for April 7 still being tallied. Live tracking maps and news agencies continue to report fresh incidents as the evening deadline approaches.
This conflict has rattled global financial markets, with crude oil prices and gold spiking on safe-haven demand. Market participants are closely monitoring the geopolitical premium's potential spillover into cryptocurrencies and other risk assets.