US-Israeli attack triggers fear and panic in Iran

DUBAI — Iranians fled cities in search of safety, and long queues formed at fuel stations as an attack on Iran by the United States and Israel spread fear and panic throughout the country. When the strikes began on Saturday morning, explosions rocked Tehran and columns of smoke rose into the sky, shaking the city at the start of the Iranian working week. Residents reached by phone described scenes of chaos and alarm as they rushed to collect their children from school or made preparations to leave home for now. "We are going to our hometown in Yazd, Tehran is not safe anymore. They said roads are safe, but I am worried," said Gholamreza, a Tehran shopkeeper and father of two. "I am leaving everything behind in Tehran." It marks the latest upheaval for Iranians weeks after thousands of people were killed in a government crackdown on nationwide unrest, and comes just eight months after last year's 12-day war with Israel, during which the United States bombed Iranian nuclear sites. Iran's top security body said it expected attacks to continue on Tehran and some other cities, and urged pe