‘It’s very scary’: Impact of Israel-Iran conflict felt in Winnipeg

Winnipeg’s Iranian community is worried for their loved ones as the conflict between Israel and Iran continues. Danton Unger reports.

As Israel began its strikes against Iran Friday, halfway around the world Donya Naghibzadeh and her family started getting urgent messages.

“My mom’s best friend had messaged her. She said, ‘I just woke up with bombs being dropped in my neighbourhood,’” Naghibzadeh told CTV News.

Her family runs the Tehran Market and Café in Winnipeg, Man. While she was born in Canada, many of Naghibzadeh’s family members remain in Iran.

“My grandma’s there right now,” Naghibzadeh said. “She went back home to visit her family and now she’s stuck there, and it’s very scary.”

Naghibzadeh said the last time she visited Iran was back in 2019, and she’s been dreaming of returning ever since. Now she worries that may not happen.

Since Israel’s initial strikes Friday, which it said targeted Iranian military and nuclear complexes, the two countries have been exchanging missile and drone attacks.

Death tolls on both sides continue to climb, with more than 200 killed in Iran and 24 reported dead in Israel on Tuesday.

“The Jewish community of Winnipeg prays for Israel and all of its citizens,” said Jeff Leiberman, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg. “We hope for an end to the violence and that Israel can live in peace, just like every other country should be able to live in peace, as well.”

He said the federation is monitoring the situation and has had to cancel a trip planned to Israel.

Meanwhile, the conflict has left many in Winnipeg’s growing Iranian community with fear and uncertainty, Naghibzadeh said.

“We’re scared for our families, and there’s not much we can do,” she said, adding she’s lost contact with her family members in Iran as internet has been cut off.

The last she heard, a bomb had dropped just a block away from her mother’s uncle’s home. She is hopeful her family is unharmed.

“I’m scared for what’s going to happen to my family. I’m scared for basically what’s going to happen to my country,” she said.