Life-and-death struggle in Israeli attacks: Turkish athletes in Iran caught in the crossfire

Israel's airstrikes on Iran, dubbed "Operation Rising Lion," caused significant loss of life and destruction in the region. The targeted locations included high-level military centers and strategic facilities.

Iran responded to these attacks with hypersonic missiles. It was reported that dozens of people lost their lives and hundreds were injured in the clashes. The region is experiencing one of its most intense periods of tension in recent years.

Among those caught in the middle of this conflict were athletes from Sakarya who had traveled to Iran to participate in an international wrestling competition. Samet Başar, an athlete from the Hendek Wrestling Specialized Club, and his teammates tried to survive by spending the night of the attacks in shelters.

THEY WAITED UNDER CONSTANT SOUNDS OF EXPLOSIONS

The athletes, who were in the region during the attacks, were gripped by panic. It was impossible for them to go outside throughout the night as the sounds of explosions continued to rise. The athletes, who were directed to shelters for their safety, could not even reach their families during the hours when phone and internet connections were cut off.

AKP Sakarya Deputy Ali İnci shared the events with the public. İnci stated, "Our athletes in Iran faced great danger in the areas targeted by the airstrikes. They spent the night under fire. All institutions of the Republic of Turkey were mobilized," he said.

EMBASSY STEPPED IN FOR EVACUATION

Providing information about the evacuation process, İnci stated that the Turkish Embassy in Tehran made intense efforts to safely remove the athletes from the region. The athletes were set on the road toward the Van border gate by land in the early hours of the morning in vehicles allocated by the embassy.