US-Israeli attacks kill 460 in Tehran, health official says

2026-03-10 - 12:23

The ongoing joint military campaign by the United States and Israel against Iran has resulted in heavy civilian casualties in the capital Tehran, according to a senior health official. Mehr Soroush, the deputy head of Tehran Emergency Health Department, confirmed on Tuesday that 460 people have lost their lives and a further 4,309 have been wounded in the city since the operations began late last month. Speaking to public broadcaster IRIB News, Soroush detailed the toll on emergency infrastructure, stating that 18 ambulances and 18 emergency bases have been damaged during the attacks targeting the capital. The strikes are part of a broader offensive that has been underway since Feb. 28, with the US and Israel conducting joint operations against Iranian targets. Regional toll and Iranian retaliation The conflict has exacted a significant human cost across the country, with total fatalities surpassing 1,200 and injuries exceeding 10,000 nationwide since the campaign's inception. In response to the aggression, Tehran has launched retaliatory drone and missile strikes against Israel, as well as targets in Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf nations hosting American military assets. The expanding scope of the conflict has raised concerns in Ankara, with Türkiye closely monitoring the escalating tensions along its southern and eastern flanks. Infrastructure strain and emergency response The damage to Tehran's emergency medical infrastructure has compounded the challenge facing first responders as they attempt to manage the surge in casualties. With 36 emergency vehicles and facilities reported damaged, officials warn that response capabilities are increasingly strained. The continued bombardment of densely populated areas has placed immense pressure on Iran's healthcare system, already grappling with the demands of an expanding regional confrontation.