The Middle East faced a dramatic escalation on April 7, 2026, as the US-Israel coordinated military campaign Operation Epic Fury entered a new phase with intense airstrikes on multiple targets inside Iran. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued an unprecedented public warning to Iranian civilians through Persian-language social media, urging them to stay away from all trains and railway stations. Shortly afterward, the strikes hit critical nodes including the Kashan railway bridge, killing at least two people and injuring three others.
Israel Warns Civilians, Strikes Transportation and Energy Hubs
IDF Persian-speaking spokesman Lt. Col. (res.) Kamal Penhasi posted the warning on X, calling on Iranian citizens to avoid using any trains or approaching railway lines until 21:00 local time. “For your safety, we request that you refrain from using trains and traveling by train throughout Iran from now until 21:00 Iran time,” the statement said. “Being near trains and railway lines endangers your life.” Following the alert, train services were canceled in several cities including Mashhad. The IDF later confirmed that aircraft struck railway tracks, crossings, and bridges in multiple regions. Iran's state news agency IRNA reported that a railway bridge near Kashan in central Iran was hit, causing casualties.
The airstrikes extended beyond railways. A petrochemical plant in the Marvdasht area near Shiraz was targeted, described by the military as one of Iran's last facilities capable of producing nitric acid and chemicals used in ballistic missiles and explosives. The army claimed previous strikes had rendered approximately 85% of Iran's petrochemical export capacity inoperable. The Karaj B1 bridge—the highest bridge in the Middle East and a key corridor west of Tehran—was struck multiple times in early April, with reports indicating between 8 and 13 civilians killed and 95 wounded. A highway bridge connecting Tabriz and Zanjan in northern Iran was also hit and closed.
Military Bases and Airports Hit; Trump Declares 'Civilization Will Die'
Massive explosions occurred at the Parchin missile complex, a major base of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps southeast of Tehran, confirmed by opposition-linked and Iranian sources. The IDF stated the strikes also hit air defense systems, drone infrastructure, a large ballistic missile array in northwestern Iran near Tabriz, and mobile missile launchers—with released footage showing the attacks. Explosions were also reported at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport and Khorramabad Airport in Lorestan province. Iranian media Mehr News Agency reported that a synagogue on Fariman Street in central Tehran was damaged or destroyed; Western confirmation of this claim remained limited at press time.
President Donald Trump addressed the situation on Truth Social on Monday, calling tonight a turning point. “A whole civilization will die tonight and will never come back,” he wrote. “I do not want this to happen, but it likely will.” He added: “Now that we have a Full and Complete Regime Change, dominated by different, much smarter, and less radical minds, perhaps something great and revolutionary could happen, WHO KNOWS? Tonight, we will witness one of the most pivotal moments in the long and complicated history of the world. 47 years of usurpation, corruption, and death will finally be over. God Bless the Great People of Iran!”
The statement followed reports that the Trump administration had given Iran an ultimatum over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on Easter Sunday. Trump separately referenced planned operations named “Power Plant Day” and “Bridge Day” as possible next steps if Iran defied the ultimatum. In a previous Easter post, he threatened to strike power plants and bridges in Iran by April 7 if the strait remained closed.
Iran Rejects Ultimatum; Casualty Figures Mount
Iran rejected the ultimatums, vowing a “firm response.” State media acknowledged ongoing damage while insisting the regime remains functional. According to various Iranian reports, casualty figures from the broad campaign range from hundreds to thousands, with April 7 totals still emerging. As midnight approached, real-time tracking maps and news agencies continued to record new reports. The airstrikes sparked global concerns over oil supply and regional stability, causing significant volatility in international crude prices.