Shoddy journalism often reveals more about the journalists than the story itself. Such is the case with the CNN article “Fear grips Iranians, with some fleeing the capital as conflict with Israel escalates,” authored by Nadeen Ebrahim and Caitlin Danaher. Relying on vague, unsourced statements and glaring omissions, the authors manipulatively portray Israel as either recklessly or deliberately killing civilians and targeting “residential areas” in Iran.
The article begins with an understandably sympathetic depiction of ordinary Iranians caught in the crossfire of the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. But the otherwise solid reporting quickly derails with the following paragraph:
Iranian experts have said that by attacking residential areas in Iran, Israel has “crossed the Rubicon” – or passed the point of no return – and is inviting attacks of the same kind from Tehran.
Who are these Iranian experts? Why aren’t they named? What are their credentials? And why weren’t opposing views or outside experts consulted?
Is it, perhaps, because these unnamed “Iranian experts” support a preferred narrative? Two major omissions in the article suggest the answer is likely “yes.”
Omission #1: Israel’s Precision Strikes
Contrary to CNN’s implication, Israel is not “attacking residential areas” per se—it is targeting Iranian regime assets within residential neighborhoods. Imagery emerging from Iran clearly demonstrates that these strikes are highly precise, often hitting specific floors—or even rooms—without damaging the surrounding structure.
Images show damage caused by Israeli strikes in Marzdaran district, west of Tehran.
: Submitted to Rudaw English pic.twitter.com/Pl6upxM4Uh
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) June 13, 2025
Aftermath of an Israel Air Force targeted strike in Iran. (Source: YNet)
Omission #2: Iran’s Indiscriminate Violence
CNN’s framing implies that Iran might be “invited” to respond in kind. But Iran’s initial response to Israel’s precise, targeted strikes on nuclear facilities and regime officials was to launch ballistic missiles at civilian areas across Israel.
While Israeli operations are surgical—targeting individuals in specific locations—Iranian missile strikes have leveled entire neighborhoods with no clear military objective.
Aftermath of a ballistic missile strike in Bat Yam. (Source: IDF)
Aftermath of an Iranian ballistic missile strike on a residential building in Bat Yam. (Source: IDF)
There is simply no comparison.
By uncritically citing anonymous “experts” and omitting key facts, Ebrahim and Danaher don’t just create a false equivalence—they actively invert reality, projecting Iran’s actions onto Israel.
Contradictory Clues within the Same Article
Ironically, later in the same piece, the authors include statements that contradict their earlier implications. For instance, they cite a local family expressing concern that “the government has housed officials and military leaders within highly populated, upper middle-class neighborhoods—putting civilians at risk.” Further down, they even acknowledge that Israel issued urgent evacuation warnings for Iranian civilians near “weapons production facilities.”
In short, even everyday Iranians recognize that Israel is targeting the regime—not civilians.
As Israel continues degrading Iran’s military capabilities, the Iranian regime will predictably double down on its familiar strategy: delegitimizing Israeli operations through false and manipulative propaganda.
Ebrahim and Danaher work for CNN, not for the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Tehran’s state-run propaganda outlet. If CNN hopes to retain even a shred of credibility, it would do well to remind its journalists of that fact.