Iran’s state broadcaster confirmed on March 21 that more than 1,500 people had been killed in Iran since the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign began on February 28. The figure, announced as the war entered its 22nd day, represented the first time Iranian state media had issued a consolidated death toll.
Independent monitoring groups and international organizations had been tracking higher numbers for days. Al Jazeera’s casualty tracker, drawing on Iranian hospital reports and local media, had placed the toll above 1,500 as early as March 16.
80,000 Civilian Sites Hit
The Iranian Red Crescent Society updated its damage assessment on the same day, reporting that more than 80,000 civilian sites had been hit since the war began. The figure included homes, schools, hospitals, shops, courthouses, and religious buildings across multiple provinces.
The Red Crescent said 260 medical facilities had been damaged or destroyed. The organization continued to receive thousands of calls daily from people seeking emergency assistance and mental health support.
Injured Far Outnumber the Dead
The number of injured far exceeded the death toll. Iranian health authorities estimated more than 19,000 people had been wounded, many with burns and shrapnel injuries caused by missile strikes on residential areas. Hospitals in Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Tabriz were operating beyond capacity and struggling with shortages of medication, surgical supplies, and blood.
Power outages in several cities complicated medical care. Backup generators were running low on fuel due to the broader energy crisis caused by strikes on oil and gas infrastructure.
A Grim Milestone
The 1,500 figure placed the Iranian civilian death toll on a trajectory comparable to early stages of other recent conflicts in the region. The toll was expected to continue rising as strikes showed no signs of abating and communications blackouts in some areas made it difficult to confirm deaths in real time.
The war had also killed more than 850 people in Lebanon, where Hezbollah and Israeli forces remained locked in daily exchanges of fire. Gulf states reported dozens of casualties from Iranian drone and missile strikes on military facilities and civilian infrastructure.
U.S. military casualties stood at 13 killed and approximately 140 wounded. Fifteen Israeli soldiers had been killed. One French service member had also died.