Residents across Tehran reported the most intense daytime bombardment since the opening hours of the war on April 7, with witnesses describing low-flying jets, cruise missiles visible to the naked eye and dozens of explosions across multiple districts across the capital. 

Reports compiled by the US-based media from residents across the capital described Tomahawk cruise missiles flying at low altitude over western Tehran toward the city centre, with some witnesses counting 10 to 14 missiles passing overhead in the space of 15 minutes.

"Just like the first day of the war," one resident in Shahriar wrote. Another in the Malard district west of Tehran said: "About 10 missiles passed over us toward Tehran. They weren't jets, they were missiles, very close to the ground," said to Vahid Online.

Explosions were reported in Shahrak-e Gharb, Saadat Abad, Gisha, Sadaghieh, Tehransar, the Piroozi Street area in eastern Tehran, and near Mehrabad Airport. Residents in central Tehran around Jomhouri Square and Baharestan described multiple blasts and the sound of air defence fire.

Witnesses in several districts said fighter jets were flying at extremely low altitude, with some describing repeated passes. "Tehran, Monirieh, 10:30, the jets are so low it feels like they'll hit your head," one resident wrote. Another near Piroozi street said: "They keep circling back and striking again. I think they're hitting the air force base on Piroozi street."

Qom, 150 kilometres south of Tehran, was also hit. Residents reported at least six heavy explosions around 10:30am, with strikes on the Shokuhieh industrial district. The city is where Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is reportedly being treated for severe injuries, according to a leaked intelligence memo reported by The Times of London.

Separately, a strike on the residential district of Vaein in Shahriar, west of Tehran, killed nine people and wounded 15, the local governor's office said, as reported by Mehr News Agency. Rescue operations were continuing.

The intensity of the morning raids matches the pattern described in Trump's primetime address on April 1, in which he said US forces would hit Iran "extremely hard" over the coming two to three weeks.

Iran's Ministry of Health has reported more than 2,076 killed since the war began on February 28, including 216 children, though the figure has not been updated to reflect the latest wave of strikes.