Israel destroyed the Rafi-Nia Synagogue in Tehran

On April 7, 2026, Israeli airstrikes early Tuesday reportedly completely destroyed the Rafi-Nia Synagogue in Tehran.

The strike took place at around 4:00 a.m. local time (00:30 GMT). Preliminary reports stated that the synagogue, located in the Iranian capital, was almost entirely reduced to rubble. Video footage released by IRNA showed a heavily destroyed building in a narrow alley, along with ongoing cleanup operations.

The Rafi-Nia Synagogue as one of the most important gathering and celebration sites for Jews from Khorasan, the northeastern region of Iran. Built in the 20th century, it was mainly used by members of the Khorasani Jewish community.

Judaism is one of Iran’s officially recognized minority religions, alongside Sunni Islam, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity, each of which has representation in parliament. Although no official figures are publicly available, Iran is believed to be home to several thousand Jews, making it one of the largest Jewish communities in the Middle East outside Israel.

Israeli statements:

The IDF does not immediately comment on the matter, and there is no independent confirmation of the claim.

The Foreign Ministry is looking into the reports, an Israeli official tells The Times of Israel.

On April 7, in response to a query by The Times of Israel, the IDF said that it struck a top commander from Khatam al-Anbiya, Iran’s military emergency command. “Reports were received that a nearby synagogue was also damaged in the strike. The IDF regrets the collateral damage to the synagogue and emphasizes that the strike was directed at a senior military target within the regime’s armed forces,” the IDF said. The army insisted that it took steps to “minimize the risk of harm to civilians” in the strike, “including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance.”