Isreal-Iran conflict – ISWP

Turkey to build bomb shelters across the country

Najwa Salah — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 17:48:15 +0000

Turkey has started building bomb shelters in all 81 provinces, a source familiar with the plans told Middle East Eye.

According to the source, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan approved the project during a cabinet meeting in June.

At the time Iran and Israel were at war, with Israel hitting Iran with air strikes and Tehran responding with ballistic missiles.

The Turkish Housing Development Administration (TOKI) has been tasked with carrying out the construction.

Last month a report prepared by the Turkish National Intelligence Academy on Israel’s 12-day war with Iran recommended that the government establish early warning systems and build well-equipped shelters.

The report suggested making use of underground metro stations in major cities and implementing measures to minimize civilian casualties in the event of a regional conflict.

Turkish officials were particularly struck by Israel’s extensive network of bomb shelters in major cities, which allowed civilians to take refuge during bombardments.

On Tuesday, Turkish broadcaster NTV reported that the goal of the initiative is “to create safe areas where civilians can be protected in case of possible wars or disasters”, including nuclear threats.

The channel noted that Turkey currently lacks adequate shelter infrastructure and that existing facilities fail to meet basic requirements.

The Ministry of Urbanization has also studied international examples such as Japan and Switzerland, NTV reported, adding that construction has already begun in certain cities, including the capital, Ankara.

Turkey’s Shelter Regulation, enacted in 1987, requires shelters in buildings above a certain size. In practice, however, the regulation has often been ignored, with many designated shelter areas being used instead as parking lots or storage spaces.

Visualising 12 days of the Israel-Iran conflict

Laila Meyer — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 15:55:54 +0000

How many people were affected in Iran?
According to Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education, thousands of people were injured, hundreds were killed, and public infrastructure was damaged.

As of June 24:

• Total injured: 4,746, including 185 women

• Total people killed: 610, including 49 women and 13 children. The youngest was two months old.

• Injured healthcare workers: 20

• Healthcare workers killed: 5

• Damaged ambulances: 9

• Damaged hospitals: 7

• Damaged health units: 4

• Damaged emergency bases: 6

How many people were affected in Israel?
According to Israel’s Ministry of Health, as of June 24, the number of people killed and injured across Israel was:

Total injured/hospitalised: 3,238

Total people killed: 28

ISRAEL-IRAN-CONFLICT
Emergency workers check the damage caused to a building from an Iranian missile strike in Beersheba, in southern Israel, on June 24, 2025 [John Wessels/AFP]
The Iranian missiles and drones that were able to make it past Israel’s interceptors mainly struck neighbourhoods in Tel Aviv and Haifa, where there was damage to apartment buildings.

Many residents affected by the Iranian strikes from Tel Aviv to Haifa were able to escape into bomb shelters.

According to the Reuters news agency, many families with safe rooms spent most of the 12 days there, while others would use public shelters whenever an alert was raised.

Photos: Iranians ‘told to evacuate’ as Israel steps up strikes on Tehran

Laila Meyer — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 14:39:09 +0000

Israel appears to be expanding its air strikes on Iran’s capital, five days after it launched a surprise attack on its foe’s military and nuclear programme.

The attacks on Tuesday targeting Tehran, as well as locations Israel branded military bases in western Iran, came as United States President Donald Trump posted an ominous message warning residents of the capital to evacuate.

“Iran can not have a nuclear weapon,” Trump wrote on Monday as he returned to Washington early from a Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada. “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”