Iran Death Toll Reaches 555 Amid Escalating US and Israeli Attacks

Iran Reports Increased Civilian Deaths Amid Escalating Conflict

At least 555 people have been killed in US-Israeli strikes across 131 counties in Iran, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. The latest attacks occurred on Monday morning in southern Iran’s Fars province, where at least 35 people were reported dead. In Tehran, an attack on Niloofar Square resulted in over 20 fatalities.

Additionally, several residential buildings next to Sanandaj’s police station were destroyed, with at least two people killed. US and Israeli forces dropped six missiles on different parts of the city, including densely populated neighborhoods. Reza Najafi, Iran’s ambassador to the IAEA, stated that the Natanz nuclear enrichment site was targeted by US-Israeli air strikes on Sunday.

The United States bombed the same facility during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June. Israeli forces have not confirmed the strike. Al Jazeera reported that the latest attacks indicate a broader scope of raids targeting not just political centers and military headquarters, but also civilian buildings.

Videos verified by Al Jazeera showed smoke billowing behind buildings near Kermanshah’s international airport. Iranian authorities reported an increase in civilian fatalities from Israeli attacks, including a girls’ school in Minab where the death toll rose to 180. Hossein Kermanpour, head of public relations at Iran’s Ministry of Health, stated that the same type of missile was used to attack the Gandhi Hospital in Tehran on Sunday.

Iran has launched retaliatory strikes against several countries in the Gulf region, including Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Countries in the Gulf have pledged to defend themselves against Iranian attacks.

Source: Al Jazeera