240 children among dead as Iran reveals war's civilian toll

2026-03-17 - 09:32

Iran's Health Ministry released devastating casualty figures Tuesday showing the human cost of the ongoing war, with hundreds of children among the dead and thousands more wounded since hostilities began. The data through March 15 paints a grim picture of civilian suffering as US and Israeli strikes continue across the country. Children pay heaviest price According to ministry figures, 204 minors under 18 have been killed in the conflict, including 13 children aged five or younger. Another 1,275 wounded are under 18, with 45 of them younger than two years old. The statistics reveal that the most vulnerable Iranians are being caught in the crossfire of the military campaign that began Feb. 28 with joint US-Israeli attacks. Thousands wounded, hospitalized The ministry reported that more than 18,000 Iranians have been wounded by what it termed "aggressor enemies." Of the 18,254 injured, 1,070 remain hospitalized while the rest have been treated and discharged. Medical teams have performed 735 surgical operations on the wounded. Women account for 226 of the dead and 3,002 of the injured, according to the official figures. Escalating conflict's broader toll The civilian casualties come amid a wider regional escalation that has claimed approximately 1,300 lives overall, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has responded to the US-Israeli offensive with drone and missile strikes targeting American military assets across Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries. The conflict has disrupted global markets and aviation while causing extensive damage to infrastructure, with the human cost now quantified in stark detail by Iran's Health Ministry.