FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The tense situation in the Middle East is grabbing the attention of Fresno’s Jewish and Iranian communities.

“In the last month, tens of thousands of unarmed citizens of Iran were murdered by the regime because they want the same freedoms we have here at home,” Fresno City Council President Mike Karbassi said.

The United States and Israel launched a major military operation against Iran. This caught Fresno City Council President Mike Karbassi’s attention.

“I was at home and I saw the breaking news that Israel and the US forces initiated a joint operation to take out the regime,” Karbassi said.

He added that it is imperative to speak up now.

“Being the first Iranian American on the council, I’m proud of being an American. But I’m also aware of my history and my heritage,” Karbassi said. “How many innocent people have to get killed before we realize this is a terrorist regime?”

Because Karbassi said thousands of people are not free in Iran. That includes the friends and family of Medhi Ghajar, a local physician who moved to Fresno from Iran when he was eight years old.

“I brought a picture of one such hero. This is Mr. Mahdavi. He was a fireman in Tehran, and he was filmed saving protesters. He, too, was killed. He’s just one of 36,000 young, innocent people,” Ghajar said.

He’s been part of weeks-long Iranian protests along Blackstone Avenue, waiting for this day to come.

“Knowing that this is the moment that the Iranian protesters who were out in the street, hoping for President Trump to send help,” Ghajar said.

President Donald Trump announced that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been killed during Operation Epic Fury. It’s a step Ghajar said was necessary to take.

“Talk to any Iranian who is not directly affiliated or financially benefiting from this regime. This situation is not unlike the Nazi Germany situation, World War II,” Ghajar said.

Iran responded with a retaliatory attack against countries like the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Israel.

“I was getting ready to go to bed last night and turned on the news while I was doing the dishes and it was wow. It hit. And I have not turned off the news,” Rabbi Rick Winer of Temple Beth Israel said.

Rabbi Rick Winer said conflict in the Middle East is out of hand.

“We’re all just torn apart because this cycle of violence is horrific and it needs to stop,” Rabbi Winer said.

Winer said his wife was supposed to visit Tel Aviv.

“Everything’s up in the air at the moment and literally as in – the airspace is closed. So if she had planned to go tomorrow, she couldn’t,” Rabbi Winer said.

What matters most now is lasting peace.

“How many centuries does it need to go on before we can find a peaceful resolution,” Rabbi Winer asked.