Aftermath of strikes near Tehran's Evin prison

ISRAEL targeted Evin prison in Tehran on Monday (June 28), one of the most potent symbols of Iran's governing system, in what Israel called the most intense bombing yet of the Iranian capital, a day after the United States joined the war by blasting nuclear sites.

AI Brief

Eyewitness video confirmed Israeli strikes near Iran's Evin Prison, verified by satellite and media sources.
Evin Prison holds political and high-profile foreign detainees and is a symbol of Iran's internal repression.
Israel's defense minister said attacks now target Iran's governing power structures, not just nuclear and military sites.

Eyewitness video showed debris and damaged buildings near Iran's Evin Prison.

Reuters was able to confirm the location of the video as Tehran from the buildings, the road layout and the trees, which matched satellite and street view imagery of the area. The date when the video was recorded was verified by Israeli and Iranian media reports of an attack on Evin Prison. NASA FIRMS (NASA's global tracking fire map) also detected thermal activity at the location on June 23.

Evin has been the primary prison for housing political detainees and security prisoners, notably since Iran's 1979 revolution, and the site of executions that remain potent symbols for the opposition. It is where several high-profile foreign prisoners are also held.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz made clear that Israel was no longer limiting its attacks to its initial stated targets such as Iran's nuclear program and missiles, and would go after the Tehran government's ability to maintain power.