On April 7, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a new wave of coordinated airstrikes against Iranian infrastructure, targeting railway lines, bridges, and missile bases. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to warn that 'the whole civilization will die tonight.' Key highlights:
Israeli Military Warns Iranian Civilians, Then Strikes Railways
Colonel (Res.) Kamal Penhasi, the Persian-language spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, issued a warning on X platform in Persian, urging Iranian citizens to stay away from all trains, railway lines, and stations until 21:00 local time. The statement read: 'For your safety, we urge you not to travel by train or use railways in Iran from now until 21:00 Iran time. Being on a train or near railway tracks will endanger your life.' Following the warning, train services in cities including Mashhad were suspended. Israeli warplanes subsequently struck railway tracks, crossings, and bridges in multiple regions. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported that a railway bridge near Kashan in central Iran was hit, killing two people and injuring three others.
Severe Infrastructure Damage: 85% of Iran's Petrochemical Export Capacity Paralyzed
The airstrikes on April 7 were part of Operation Epic Fury (also known as Roaring Lion), a joint US-Israel military campaign that has escalated since late February 2026, targeting Iran's military infrastructure, missile production facilities, and regime-linked logistics networks. The damage extends well beyond railways. The Karaj B1 Bridge, the tallest in the Middle East and a key link between Tehran and the western regions, was struck multiple times in early April, resulting in 8 to 13 deaths and 95 injuries, including civilians gathered under the bridge. A highway bridge connecting Tabriz and Zanjan in northern Iran was also attacked and closed. The IDF confirmed a strike on a petrochemical plant near Marvdasht in Shiraz, describing it as one of the few remaining facilities capable of producing nitric acid and chemicals used in ballistic missiles and explosives. Previous rounds of strikes have paralyzed approximately 85% of Iran's petrochemical export capacity. Massive explosions were reported at the Parchin missile base southeast of Tehran, a key Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps site. The IDF said it also hit air defense systems, drone infrastructure, a large ballistic missile position near Tabriz, and mobile missile launchers. Explosions were also reported at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport and Khorramabad Airport in Lorestan province. Iran's Mehr News Agency reported damage to a synagogue in central Tehran, though the claim remains unverified by Western sources.
Trump: 'A Whole Civilization Will Die Tonight'
President Trump commented on the situation via his Truth Social platform on Monday, framing the night as a turning point. He wrote: 'A whole civilization will die tonight and never be reborn. I don't want this to happen, but I'm afraid it will.' He continued: 'But since we have achieved a complete and total regime change, allowing different, wiser, and less radical ideas to prevail, maybe something revolutionary and beautiful will happen — 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!' The post came after an Easter warning in which Trump threatened to launch 'Power Plant Day' and 'Bridge Day' operations if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed. Iran has rejected these ultimatums, vowing a 'decisive response.' Casualty figures from the massive operation range from hundreds to thousands, according to various Iranian reports, with totals still being tallied as the deadline approaches.