'Iran Couldn't Stop The Joy': Viral Video Shows Newlyweds Dancing In Bunker As Missiles Rain Down On Israel

A video has surfaced on the social media platform X, showing a newlywed couple in Jerusalem sharing their first dance in an underground bunker while nearly 200 ballistic missiles were launched at Israel by Iran on Tuesday.

Kristirae and Shawn Gibson—who travelled from Colorado, US, for their wedding—found themselves forced to relocate their special moment to the hotel shelter where the ceremony was being held.

According to Italian daily La Repubblica, the couple had not anticipated such an eventful ceremony. As practicing Catholics, they chose to marry in the Holy City of Jerusalem to celebrate both their love and shared beliefs. However, they were caught off guard when they had to descend into the shelter along with their guests.

“We wanted to come here a year ago, then there was October 7,” they shared with La Repubblica, as the sounds of the Iron Dome intercepting missiles echoed above. “You can see that it was meant to be unforgettable.”

Love amid the chaos

Footage of the couple in their wedding attire captured them slow dancing in the cramped, dusty shelter while their guests watched on.

The video quickly went viral, amassing over 2.1 million views. Saul Sadka, a Bible scholar and author who shared the video on X, wrote, “Iran couldn’t stop the joy at this Jerusalem wedding even for a moment,” alongside a heart emoji.

Many users also shared their best wishes for the couple in the video, applauding them for continuing to dance amid the chaos of the conflict above.

Continued Conflict

Following Tuesday’s attack by Iran, the Israeli military on Wednesday said that several Iranian missiles landed at air force bases but did not cause any damage.

In the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian was killed in Jericho when debris from a rocket fell and struck him, according to the city’s governor, Hussein Hamayel.

In response to the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Tehran “made a big mistake tonight and will pay for it,” while the United States warned of “severe consequences.”

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also called for a decisive strike to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened a “crushing attack” if Israel responded and warned against any direct military intervention in support of Israel.

(With inputs from agencies)