Residents Struggle to Sleep After 'That Day'… "My Whole Body Trembles" in Extreme Fear

Elnaz, a 30-year-old resident of Ahvaz in southwestern Iran, described July 16 (local time) as the worst day of the U.S. airstrikes so far.

"The shockwave from the explosion was so close. I thought that if I went outside, the entire city would have been devastated," Elnaz said, describing the situation at the time.

She explained that the young children of her family and friends were particularly terrified that night.

That day marked the sixth day of U.S. airstrikes, which began on July 11.

It was also the time when damage from the airstrikes occurred in various parts of the city, including near a children's cancer hospital in downtown Ahvaz.

Elnaz said that while the intensity of the attacks seems to have decreased since that day, "no one knows what kind of attack will happen when night falls."

"We know that they generally target military areas, but the noise and shockwaves from those places being bombed are felt by us as well," she said, expressing her fear by adding, "My whole body trembles."

In an interview with the New York Times reported on July 18, Elnaz and other southern residents complained of extreme anxiety, unable to sleep for several days due to the intensive U.S. night airstrikes that have continued for eight days from July 11 to that day.

They did not reveal their full names for fear of government retaliation.

They expressed their isolation and terror, stating that roads have been cut off and the sound of explosions continues due to the repeated bombings.

Marzieh, a resident of the port city of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan Province, said she heard from friends that roads around the city had been completely destroyed.

The governor of Hormozgan Province said that one tunnel and three bridges were destroyed in the airstrikes that took place overnight, and urged residents to refrain from unnecessary road travel until further notice.

Airstrike damage is also continuing in Ahvaz and the inland cities of Lar and Darab in Fars Province in the south.

Emad, who runs a shop in Ahvaz, said that as far as he is aware, the targets of the attacks appear to be the southeastern outskirts where military bases or facilities are located, rather than the city center.

Emad added that while he has become accustomed to the attacks now, "people living in areas close to where the airstrike damage occurred feel fear from the explosions."

Although summer temperatures in Ahvaz reach 48.9°C (120°F), the current atmosphere in the city center is desolate.

Elnaz reported that while there are goods in the shops, there are almost no customers because people have no money.

The Iranian economy is deteriorating as food prices skyrocket due to the war and companies lay off employees.

Elnaz expressed her pain, stating that the situation caused by the war is "unbearable."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.