The conflict in West Asia has become more serious as Israel carried out fresh airstrikes in Tehran. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the strikes targeted Basij and internal security command centres that belong to the Iranian government.
In a statement shared on social media, the IDF said these centres were used by the Iranian regime to maintain control across the country. Israel also claimed that it struck missile launchers and other military systems. The Israeli Air Force stated that Iranian soldiers who operated air defence systems against Israeli aircraft were neutralized during the operation.
Meanwhile, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that 1,097 civilians have been killed in Iran since February 28. The figures could not be independently verified.
The Israeli Air Force also confirmed that it has resumed attacks on infrastructure linked to Hezbollah in Beirut, Lebanon. This indicates that the conflict is spreading beyond Iran.
On the American side, the commander of United States Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, said that the United States would continue its military operations. Speaking about “Operation Epic Fury,” he said that in less than 100 hours, the US had hit nearly 2,000 targets using more than 2,000 munitions. He added that Iran’s air defence systems have been severely weakened and that hundreds of ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones have been destroyed.
However, the conflict has also resulted in American casualties. The United States Department of War said in a statement that four US Army Reserve soldiers supporting Operation Epic Fury were killed in Kuwait. The soldiers were stationed at the Port of Shuaiba when an unmanned aircraft system attack took place.
As the conflict continues, concerns are growing over rising civilian casualties, the widening scope of military operations, and the risk of further escalation across the region. International observers fear that without diplomatic efforts, the situation could become even more unstable.