Israeli army warns Iranians to avoid trains ahead of possible strikes

The Israeli military issued an urgent warning Tuesday morning urging people in Iran to refrain from using rail transportation for several hours. Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted on X: “For your safety, we ask you not to use trains across Iran from this moment until 9 p.m. Iran time. Being present on trains or near railways puts your lives at risk.” The statement did not explain the reason for the warning, but such public advisories have historically been issued ahead of planned airstrikes on infrastructure.

Civilian safety or psychological warfare?

While Israeli officials frame the warning as a measure to protect civilian lives, critics note that such announcements also serve as psychological warfare, spreading fear among ordinary Iranians. The advisory comes as the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran continues to escalate, with strikes increasingly targeting transportation and energy infrastructure. Iranian authorities have not yet issued any public response to the Israeli warning.

Wider conflict and Türkiye’s position

Regional tensions have been running high since the US and Israel launched their joint offensive on Iran on February 28, which has killed more than 1,340 people to date, including former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and infrastructure damage while disrupting global markets and aviation. For Türkiye, which has consistently called for the protection of civilians under international law, the Israeli warning raises questions about the targeting of civilian infrastructure such as railways. Ankara has repeatedly urged all parties to avoid collective punishment of civilian populations and to adhere to international humanitarian law, which prohibits indiscriminate attacks and requires advance warnings only when effective and not used as a form of terror.