Destruction of the Rafi'-Nia synagogue

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Destruction of the Rafi'-Nia synagogue
Part of the destruction of cultural heritage sites during the 2026 Iran war
Members of the Tehran Jewish community navigating the site where the Rafi'-Nia synagogue was destroyed, as depicted and recorded by Mehr News Agency .
Native nameکنیسه رفیع‌نیا
LocationRafi-Nia synagogue
Date7 April 2026
TargetUnnamed Iranian commander in the adjacent Khatam al-Anbiya headquarter (per Israel)
Attack type
 Airstrike, attempted targeted killing
InjuredTwo people were initially stuck under rubble, but no injuries were reported
PerpetratorIsrael Air Force Flag.svg  Israeli Air Force

On 7 April 2026, during the 2026 Iran war, the Rafi'-Nia synagogue in Tehran was completely destroyed during an Israeli Air Force strike on an adjacent building. [1] The incident was condemned by Iranian authorities and the local Jewish community. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) said it "regrets" the destruction of the synagogue. Shargh reported that the site was one of the "most important places" for the Iranian Khorasan Jews community. [2]

Contents

Background

Activities of the synagogue

The synagogue before its destruction, 2009. Rafi'-Nia synagogue (2009).jpg
The synagogue before its destruction, 2009.

The synagogue was built around 1970 as testified by a 2 million Iranian rials donation for the construction of Khorasaniha Synagogue in the same year. [3]

Shargh was reported stating by various outlets that the synagogue was "one of the most important places for Khorasan Jews to gather and celebrate" before its destruction. [4] [5] [6]

Airstrike

The IDF said it was targetting an Iranian commander, who was located in the adjacent Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters. [7] [8] It said the destruction of the synagogue was "collateral damage" caused by the airstrike to the adjacent building. [4] [9] Numerous religious texts were buried under the rubble of the collapsing synagogue, [5] alongside two people who were assisted by the Red Crescent through a "high-stakes" rescue operation. [10] There were no immediate reports of casualties following the strike. [11]

Aftermath

Iranian reaction

Iranian government

Homayoun Sameh, a Jewish representative in the country’s Islamic Consultative Assembly, published a post on Telegram stating that "the Zionist regime showed no mercy to this community during the Jewish holidays and targeted one of our ancient and holy synagogues", adding that in this specific incident scrolls of the Torah were lost under the rubble of the destroyed building. [12] [13] [14]

Iranian Jewish community

Senior members of Tehran’s Jewish community visited the former synagogue and later, [7] the community in Tehran also released a statement of condemnation against the destruction of the synagogue and the wider campaign of airstrikes against Iran. [12]

Israeli statements

The Israeli Defense Forces admitted the airstrike that struck the synagogue was Israeli. It stated that the destruction of the synagogue was "collateral damage" and that it was not the direct target of the airstrike. [7] The IDF said it "regrets" the destruction of the synagogue. [7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ AFP and AP. "Synagogue in Tehran 'completely destroyed' in US-Israeli attack". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  2. ↑ AFP and AP. "Synagogue in Tehran 'completely destroyed' in US-Israeli attack". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  3. ↑ "Khorasaniha Synagogue - Iranian Jewish Culure". 7Dorim. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Synagogue in Tehran 'completely destroyed' in US-Israeli attack". Al Jazeera . 7 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Iranian Synagogue 'Completely Destroyed,' Reportedly By US-Israeli Airstrike | Common Dreams". Common Dreams . Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  6. ↑ AFP (7 April 2026). "Strikes 'completely destroyed' synagogue in Iranian capital, local media report". Free Malaysia Today . Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Ari, Lior Ben; Eichner, Itamar (7 April 2026). "IDF confirms Tehran strike targeted Iranian commander, synagogue hit was 'collateral damage'". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  8. ↑ Fabian, Emanuel; Stub, Zev (7 April 2026). "IDF admits Tehran synagogue was 'collateral damage' in strike on Iran commander". The Times of Israel. ISSN   0040-7909 . Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "Iran's Jewish community condemns US-Israeli attack on synagogue". The New Arab . 7 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  10. ↑ "Israel Strikes Jewish Synagogue in Tehran". West Asia News Agency. 7 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  11. ↑ "US-Israeli strikes 'completely destroy' synagogue in Tehran". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  12. 1 2 "Rafi-Nia Synagogue in Tehran destroyed in US-Israeli attacks on Iran". Shafaqna . 7 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  13. ↑ "Tehran synagogue damaged by missile strike according to Iranian media | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post . 7 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  14. ↑ AFP and AP. "Synagogue in Tehran 'completely destroyed' in US-Israeli attack". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
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