Tehran: President of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, Pirhossein Kolivand, claimed that the United States and Israel have targeted over 80,000 civilian locations since the start of what he described as their “aggression” against Iran. Speaking to foreign media, he highlighted violations of international humanitarian law during the strikes, Xinhua news agency reported.
Scale of Attacks on Civilians and Infrastructure
Kolivand stated that more than 20,000 of the targeted units were in Tehran, with over 60,000 located in other parts of the country. Close to 18,790 commercial units, 266 medical centers, and 498 schools have reportedly been hit. The strikes have allegedly killed 12 medical staff members and injured over 90 others.
He added that hundreds of civilians, including children and 231 women, have been killed since the onset of the conflict, while other media reports suggest that total fatalities in Iran have exceeded 1,500.
Iranian Military Retaliation and Warnings
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported shooting down an Israeli F-16 Fighting Falcon over central Iranian airspace. Iranian forces also claimed an attack on fuel tanks for military aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv.
Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned of potential strikes on the UAE’s Ras Al-Khaimah in response to any attacks originating from its territory against southern Iranian islands. “As we had announced before and proved in practice, we will attack the origin of any invasion against our territory and national sovereignty,” he said.
Background of the Escalation
The current conflict traces back to February 28, when Israel and the United States conducted joint strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities, reportedly killing Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli and US bases and assets across the Middle East, escalating the ongoing confrontation.
