The AP, AFP, and others have cited Iranian state media to say that US-Israeli strikes have “completely destroyed” a synagogue in Tehran, as attacks have intensified overnight and into Tuesday.
“According to preliminary information, the Rafi-Nia Synagogue … was completely destroyed in this morning’s attacks,” the Shargh newspaper reported. Mehr news agency describes the synagogue was destroyed when an adjacent residential building in central Tehran was bombed in an aerial attacks.
Footage from the scene showed Hebrew-language books scattered on the ground and amid the rubble. Rescue efforts searching for bystanders ensued in the area. There have been no initial reports of casualties.
Israeli media, specifically the Jerusalem Post, has actually confirmed the destruction, noting that both Iran’s Jewish parliament representative as well as the synagogue’s Persian Jewish rabbi have condemned the attack in visits to the scene:
The report said that due to the narrowness of the streets surrounding the building attacked, the exterior and interior of the nearby buildings were also “severely damaged”. There was no immediate report on casualties.
In a video published on Telegram by Iran’s official IRIB News outlet, Homayoun Sameh, a Jewish representative in the country’s Islamic Consultative Assembly, said “the Zionist regime showed no mercy to this community during the Jewish holidays and targeted one of our ancient and holy synagogues.
“Unfortunately, during this attack, the synagogue building was completely destroyed and our Torah scrolls were left under the rubble,” he said.
According to more confirmation from JPost, “Footage and reports circulated by Iranian outlets and social media accounts identified the site as the Rafi Niya Synagogue, located near Palestine Square in central Tehran, an area that has seen repeated strikes in recent days.”
A US-Israel strike has caused extensive damage to a synagogue in Tehran, according to a video published by Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency.
Footage shows civil defence workers amid the rubble, with Hebrew-language books scattered on the ground. pic.twitter.com/Vpvn2dfjw9
— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) April 7, 2026
“This was confirmed to The Jerusalem Post by independent sources, who told the Post that a member of the Tehran Beit Din, Rabbi David Sasani, had been seen at the site, evaluating the damage,” it adds.
Judaism, alongside Christianity, is a minority in Iran but has protected status and even enjoys representation in Iranian parliament. There are over 30 synagogues in Tehran alone, and some 100 throughout the country, with estimates of around 10,000 Iranian Jews. The Rafi-Nia synagogue was built in the 20th century.
A few hours ago, the Jewish synagogue near Palestine Street in Tehran was targeted by Israeli fighter jets.
This synagogue, located near Palestine Square, is known as “Rafi Niya Synagogue,” and a significant part of it has been destroyed as a result of the Israeli attack. pic.twitter.com/dBXApQ3omi
— IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) April 7, 2026
IRNA English, Iran’s official state news agency, has accused Israel of actually targeting it: “a few hours ago, the Jewish synagogue near Palestine Street in Tehran was targeted by Israeli fighter jets,” it said.
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