Panic in the streets, but relief for some: The mood in Iran
published at 20:02
Baran Abbasi
BBC Persian
Image source,Getty Images
In Iran, the response to the attacks has been deeply mixed, with scenes of panic in some areas and relief in others at the prospect of the regime’s downfall.
It was around 09:40 when Iranians in several cities reported hearing loud explosions.
Videos circulating on social media show people near the blast sites running in panic, with the sounds of screams and crying in the background.
But, at the same time, there appears to be a sense of relief - even celebration - among those who believe the regime’s downfall can only come through military intervention.
Many people had been anticipating a possible US attack. Reactions to it by Iranians have been deeply mixed.
"If I die, don’t forget that we exist too - those of us who oppose any military attack, those of us who will become just a number in reports of the dead," one Iranian wrote on social media.
Another wrote: "Damn the Islamic dictatorship that caused this war. We have already endured three wars."
Many Iranians who lived through what has been described as one of the bloodiest crackdowns on civilians in modern history say they now welcome regime change - even if it comes through military intervention and the killing of senior officials.
Others, however, fear that airstrikes alone may not bring about the regime’s collapse. They worry it could survive and, in response, become even more brutal towards its own people.