The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned Israeli authorities on Monday after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) headquarters during the fourth day of fire exchanged between Israel and Iran.

CPJ regional director Sara Qudah expressed deep concern over Israel’s bombing of Iranian state television while it was live on air, calling for an immediate end to such attacks. She further emphasized that Israel has been responsible for the deaths of at least 185 journalists across the Middle East since the outbreak of its conflict with Gaza.

Israeli strikes targeted the building housing Iran’s state-owned media outlet as news anchor Sahar Emami was delivering a live broadcast. The explosion abruptly cut the transmission as she rushed off camera. Later, Emami reappeared from a different studio, reporting that journalists had been killed in the attack.

The bombing was carried out shortly after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued an evacuation warning for a district in Tehran housing the offices of the state broadcaster, which is home to approximately 330,000 people. The IDF later confirmed the precision strike, alleging the building was being used by the Iranian Armed Forces while operating under the guise of civilian media activity. According to its statement, the facility’s infrastructure and assets were exploited for military purposes, despite its outward appearance as a media center. Furthermore, in the lead-up to the attack, Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, stated that “the Iranian propaganda and incitement mouthpiece is on its way to disappearing.” Following the strike, he added, “We will strike the Iranian dictator everywhere.”

The air-strike left several journalists and staff members injured and resulted in the deaths of two employees of state broadcaster Nima Rajabpour, a senior news editor, and Masoumeh Azimi, a secretariat officer. Both individuals succumbed to injuries sustained during the attack.

The spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baqaei, described the strike in a post on his X account as “a wicked act of war.” In addition, IRIB Director Peyman Jebelli emphasized that there was no legitimate justification for targeting the media outlet, stressing that the facility posed no military threat. He further noted that the attack reflects a longstanding pattern in which journalists and media institutions across the region have been systematically targeted during Israeli military operations.

Amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, the International Commission of Jurists has called on Israel to respect Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasizing the gravity of its actions under international law. Concurrently, the CPJ has identified this period as the deadliest for journalists since it began recording data in 1992.