Close
newsletters Newsletters
X Instagram Youtube

US-Israeli strikes destroy Rafi-Nia synagogue in central Tehran

A view of the synagogue seen from outside. (Source: 7dorim.com)
Photo
BigPhoto
A view of the synagogue seen from outside. (Source: 7dorim.com)
April 07, 2026 09:04 AM GMT+03:00

U.S.-Israeli strikes early on Tuesday "completely destroyed" a synagogue in Tehran, Iran's Mehr news agency and the Shargh daily reported.

"According to preliminary information, the Rafi-Nia Synagogue... was completely destroyed in this morning's attacks," Shargh wrote.

Judaism is one of Iran's legally recognised minority religions, and the country has a small Jewish community, although many members fled in the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

There are no publicly available official numbers, but there are thought to be a few thousand Jewish people in Iran.

Shargh called the synagogue "one of the most important places for Khorasan Jews to gather and celebrate", referring to the northeastern province of Iran.

Shia Islam is the majority religion in Iran, but the constitution recognises Sunni Islam, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Christianity as minority sects, with each represented in parliament.

Rafi-Nia synagogue in the summer of 2009. (Source: 7dorim.com)
Rafi-Nia synagogue in the summer of 2009. (Source: 7dorim.com)

Israel urges Iranians not to travel by train

The Israeli military on Tuesday morning warned people in Iran to avoid using trains across the country for several hours.

In a statement posted on the US social media company X, military spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged residents not to use rail transport until 9 pm local time.

“For your safety, we ask you not to use trains across Iran from this moment until 9 p.m Iran time,” he said.

“Being present on trains or near railways puts your lives at risk,” he warned.

The statement did not provide further details on the reason for the warning, but such cautions come ahead of possible strikes.

Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing so far over 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.

April 07, 2026 11:02 AM GMT+03:00
More From Türkiye Today