TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Iran condemned Israel’s attack on a State TV building in Tehran on Monday as a “war crime” and called on the UN Security Council (UNSC) to take action.

The strike on the offices of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) during a live broadcast was a “wicked act” and a “war crime”, said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.

“The UNSC must act now to stop the genocidal aggressor from committing further atrocities against our people,” he added.

An Israeli attack on Monday hit the IRIB building, cutting off live coverage immediately.

The blast occurred as the presenter was live on TV lambasting Israel before she was seen leaving the live broadcast, Iranian media reported, sharing a video of the incident.

Live coverage resumed shortly after.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also condemned the attack, calling it “inhuman, criminal and a terrorist act”.

After decades of enmity and a prolonged shadow war, Israel last Friday launched a surprise attack, saying it was targeting Iran’s nuclear and military facilities.

So far it has killed at least 224 people in the Islamic republic, including top military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians.

Iran has retaliated with barrages of drones and missiles that have killed at least 24 people in Israel, according to the latest figures from the prime minister’s office.

Iran does not recognise Israel and has long accused it of carrying out sabotage operations against its nuclear facilities and assassinating its scientists.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday issued a direct plea for the “good people of Iran” to stand against Tehran’s “radical tyranny”, saying that “a light has been lit, carry it to freedom”.

In a 13-minute interview with London-based channel Iran International, the Israeli leader insisted that “you’re not our enemy. We’re not your enemy”.

“We have a common enemy, and we’re resolutely fighting them, and I believe you’ll have an opportunity to be free soon,” he added.

IThe prime minister said in a separate interview on Monday that Iranians now saw their Government as “much weaker than they thought”, and urged them put pressure on their leaders.

“This is evil against good, and it’s time for good people to stand up with the good — the good people of Iran and good people everywhere — against this madness foisted on all of us by this radical tyranny,” he told Iran International.