More than 1,000 killed as Iran conflict spreads across Middle East

The death toll from the rapidly escalating conflict in the Middle East has surpassed 1,000 following US and Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend, while retaliatory attacks by Tehran have caused additional casualties across several countries in the region. The fighting is ongoing, and the number of victims continues to rise as new information emerges.

According to American media, citing the US-based human rights news agency HRANA, at least 1,097 civilians have been killed in Iran since the escalation began. Among the victims are 168 children and 14 teachers. Iranian state media reported that many of them were killed when the United States and Israel struck a girls’ primary school on Saturday, February 28.

Casualties have also been reported elsewhere in the region. In Lebanon, at least 77 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, the country’s Health Ministry said on Wednesday. The head of the World Health Organisation said the victims include three paramedics.

In Kuwait, Iranian attacks have killed at least 10 people, according to the US Central Command. The victims include six US service members. The Kuwaiti military also reported that two of its own soldiers were killed in the attacks.

In Israel, at least 10 people have been killed in strikes on the country since Saturday, according to the emergency service Magen David Adom.

In Iraq, the media office of the Popular Mobilisation Forces said at least four militia fighters were killed in Diyala province on Sunday in a US-Israeli airstrike.

The United Arab Emirates has also reported casualties from Iranian drone attacks. According to the country’s Defence Ministry, at least three people were killed — citizens of Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, in Bahrain one person died in the Salman industrial area after a fire broke out aboard a foreign vessel when debris from an intercepted missile struck the ship, state media reported on Monday.

The conflict continues to spread across the region, with casualties reported in multiple countries and the overall death toll still rising.

By Tamilla Hasanova