US-Israeli strikes death toll in Iran rises to 555, Red Crescent reports

2026-03-02 - 10:23

The Iranian Red Crescent reported Monday that the death toll from the joint US-Israeli military campaign initiated on Saturday has risen to 555, according to a statement cited by Fars News Agency. The organization confirmed that 131 residential areas across Iran were targeted in the strikes, though it did not provide updated figures on the number of injured. The previous casualty count announced Saturday stood at 201 dead and 747 wounded. Widespread Attacks and Leadership Casualties The extensive aerial campaign struck multiple civilian and military sites throughout Iran, with senior officials confirming that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed. The strikes represent a dramatic escalation in hostilities between Iran and the US-Israeli alliance, targeting the heart of Tehran's political and military leadership. The Red Crescent continues search and rescue operations across affected areas as medical facilities struggle to cope with the influx of casualties. Retaliatory Actions and Regional Fallout In response to the attacks, Tehran has launched drone and missile strikes targeting Israeli positions, US assets, and several Gulf countries, expanding the conflict's geographic scope. The cycle of retaliation has raised fears of a broader regional war, with Gulf states now directly affected by Iranian counterstrikes. International calls for restraint have so far gone unheeded as both sides continue military operations.