Iran Reports 1,255 Fatalities from US-Israeli Strikes, Majority Civilians

Iran’s Deputy Minister of Health, Ali Jafarian, has disclosed that more than 1,200 people have lost their lives in the continuing aggression from the United States and Israel, with most casualties being civilians. He also mentioned that numerous health facilities throughout the nation have sustained damage due to aerial assaults.

In an interview with Al Jazeera on Monday, Jafarian reported that at least 1,255 individuals have died since the commencement of the strikes, which includes roughly 200 children and 11 healthcare professionals. The victims' ages range from as young as eight months to as old as 88 years.

Furthermore, he indicated that more than 12,000 individuals have been injured, with many suffering from burns and injuries related to being crushed during the bombardments.

Jafarian stated that the airstrikes have inflicted serious harm on the nation's healthcare system. To date, 29 medical facilities have been reported damaged, with 10 of those completely forced to close. Additionally, 52 health centers, 18 emergency service sites, and 15 ambulances have also experienced damage or destruction.

He raised concerns about the health hazards stemming from the recent attacks on oil facilities in Iran. Airstrikes on Saturday evening resulted in significant fires at several fuel sites, leading to thick smoke blanketing parts of the capital, Tehran.

“The entire city was shrouded in darkness until yesterday afternoon,” he recounted, noting how smoke enveloped the skyline above the city.

As per Iranian official accounts, the attacks impacted key oil storage facilities, namely the Aghdasieh oil warehouse in northeastern Tehran, the Tehran refinery in the southern region, and the Shahran oil depot located in western Tehran.

Israel has acknowledged targeting “multiple fuel storage facilities in Tehran,” asserting these locations were utilized to bolster military operations.

Jafarian cautioned that the resulting smoke and pollution pose serious risks to respiratory health, especially for children and the elderly, urging residents to stay indoors with windows shut.

He also expressed apprehension regarding potential long-term environmental repercussions, claiming that acid rain resulting from the pollution could lead to soil contamination.

“This is not about military objectives… These are not military targets,” he emphasized, contending that most of the areas impacted are civilian zones.

Jafarian mentioned that over 200 cities in Iran have endured strikes since hostilities escalated on February 28.

Explosions were again reported on Monday in the cities of Qom and Tehran as the US and Israel persisted with their air operations. Officials from both nations have implied that the conflict may continue for several weeks, while analysts have indicated that a clear resolution path appears elusive.