Iranians fleeing war describe fear under relentless airstrikes

Thursday 05 March 2026 - 12:00

By: Sahili Aya

Iranians fleeing war describe fear under relentless airstrikes

As military tensions escalate in the Middle East, civilians fleeing Iran are sharing alarming accounts of life under constant bombardment. Many have crossed into neighboring countries in recent days, describing nights filled with fear and uncertainty as explosions rocked cities across the country.

Among them is Sanaz, a resident of Tabriz in northwestern Iran, who recently reached Turkey after leaving behind her home and family. She said the relentless strikes forced many people to flee their neighborhoods in search of safety.

“Every night we go to sleep in fear and wake up stressed,” she explained. “No one knows what will happen to our economy, our people, or our country.”

Since the beginning of the escalation, Iranian citizens as well as foreign residents living in Iran have sought refuge in nearby states such as Turkey, Iraq, Armenia, and Pakistan. At the Kapıköy-Razi border crossing between Iran and Turkey, small groups of travelers continue to arrive carrying suitcases, documents, and frightened children.

Further east, near the Pakistani border crossing of Taftan, dozens of Pakistani nationals have also attempted to return home. Basheer Ahmed, a 42-year-old trader who had been traveling through southern Iran, described a tense environment marked by repeated explosions.

“The situation was extremely bad,” he said. “Sometimes we would hear several blasts in a single day, and we could not even tell where they were coming from. People were trying to leave the area by any means possible.”

His travel companion Mushtaq Ahmed recounted passing through several cities where large gatherings had formed following the death of key leaders of the Islamic Republic. According to him, shops and offices were closed while crowds gathered in the streets chanting slogans and expressing grief.

In the north of the country, foreign students and residents have also struggled to escape the conflict. Shahid Rashid, an Indian medical student studying in Urmia, said he witnessed multiple strikes near his residence. Universities temporarily sheltered students inside dormitories, distributing meals while businesses across the city shut down.

“The situation is becoming more difficult every day,” he said, adding that he hopes to obtain permission to travel to Armenia soon.

For Nasim, a 35-year-old Iranian woman who managed to reach Turkey after a long journey from Isfahan through Tehran, the experience was both terrifying and emotionally complex. With internet services disrupted during her trip, she had little information about the situation unfolding around her.

“The explosions were frightening,” she said. “But at the same time, many people feel that something might finally change after years of tension.”

As the regional crisis continues, thousands remain on the move, hoping to find safety beyond Iran’s borders while uncertainty about the country’s future grows.