Companies operating at Shahid Rajaee Port near Bandar Abbas, Iran -- including warehouse staff, shipowners, and freight forwarders -- fled the port after it was targeted in joint attacks by the United States and Israel on Saturday.
Black smoke was rising from a naval radar station and a warehouse of the Revolutionary Guard Corps naval base near the port at around 11:00, an overseas Chinese resident told China Global Television Network (CGTN).
The evacuation of businesses from the port has triggered traffic jams on roads leading to the city, according to the witness, with footage obtained by CGTN showing trucks, fuel tankers and cars crowding the roads.
The United States and Israel on Saturday launched strikes against Iran, plunging the war-torn Middle East into a new round of violent conflicts.
Iran has retaliated with a series of counterattacks against Israel and U.S. targets across the region, with explosions reported in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
The latest flare-up came after the United States and Iran wrapped up their third round of indirect talks earlier this week and agreed to resume negotiations next week.
Businesses flee key Iranian port following attacks by US, Israel
Businesses flee key Iranian port following attacks by US, Israel
Air raid sirens sounded repeatedly across Tel Aviv on Saturday as Iran launched missile attacks at Israel, forcing residents to seek cover in underground spaces.
Earlier in the day, the United States and Israel launched "major combat operations" against Iran, prompting retaliation from Iran and plunging the war-torn Middle East into a new round of violence.
"It's 10:30 local time, 8:30 GMT. And you can hear sirens sounding in Tel Aviv, the first sirens for months here. We heard sirens in northern communities before. Now we're hearing sirens here in Tel Aviv. As I'm doing this, I'll be approaching the shelters. People behind me, you can see rushing to shelters, not in a very quick way, but people are not remaining in the streets," said Jonathan Regev, a reporter with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
Regev visited an underground parking lot that has been repurposed as a bunker, accommodating dozens of people after early warnings were issued.
"So for the 5th, or 6th time maybe -- it's hard to keep track -- sirens are sounding in Tel Aviv today. And here you can see behind me. As soon as the sirens are sounding, people are rushing to this place. It's not even an official shelter, but rather an underground parking lot and underground compound. You can see people. They are rushing right behind. More and more people are coming," Regev said.
Despite multiple sirens, there was no visible panic as residents followed instructions to remain under cover until the all-clear signal was given.
"I have to say, no real panic. People may be even finding solutions for a longer stay. And this is the situation here today. It will probably be the situation for quite some time to come. The instruction now is that people have to wait here at least for another 10 minutes or so until the all-clear siren comes from the home front command. This is just one example of the underground parking lot in the city of Tel Aviv. Tens such places exist in the city and in many other cities as well," Regev said.
Tel Aviv residents take shelter as sirens sound repeatedly across city
