Widespread Air Attacks Target Iranian Cities, Hundreds of Casualties Under Rubble

Iranian territories were subjected early this Friday to a series of violent air raids carried out by joint American and Israeli forces, targeting the capital Tehran and a wide range of major cities. Field sources reported that the bombing caused massive destruction to populated residential areas, leading to deaths and missing persons who are still under the rubble in several provinces.

The offensive wave included strategic cities such as Qom, Tabriz, Urmia, and Kashan, in addition to the city of Karaj adjacent to the capital, in an escalation described as the widest since the start of the direct confrontation. Media sources confirmed that the bombing was not limited to military targets but also hit civilian facilities and homes deep within Iranian cities, causing panic among the population.

In Qom province, Tasnim news agency confirmed the death of at least six citizens following a raid targeting the Pardisan residential area, where missiles completely destroyed three homes. The Deputy Governor of Qom, Morteza Heidari, stated that rescue teams are working hard to retrieve victims from under the debris, noting that the number of injuries is likely to rise due to the severity of cases transferred to hospitals.

In the south of the country, the official news agency mourned two siblings who died in a bombing that targeted a residential neighborhood in Shiraz, while others sustained various injuries. The coastal city of Bandar Abbas, overlooking the Gulf, also witnessed the complete destruction of a residential building, reflecting the expansion of the geographical targeting to include vital waterways and border areas.

For his part, the Director of Crisis Management in West Azerbaijan province, Hamid Safari, announced that at least four civilian buildings were directly targeted in the city of Urmia. The Iranian Red Crescent broadcast footage showing civil defense teams racing against time to reach survivors under the rubble of destroyed buildings, confirming severe injuries among unarmed civilians.

Official statistics issued by Iranian officials indicate a very heavy toll, with the number of deaths since the start of the military campaign exceeding 1,348 people, while the number of injured has surpassed 17,000. These figures reflect the magnitude of the firepower used in the attacks, which also targeted the cities of Isfahan, Yazd, and Ahvaz in recent hours.

In contrast, the Israeli army issued an official statement confirming the execution of what it described as 'a wide wave of precise strikes' against targets belonging to the Iranian regime. The statement claimed that the attacks focused on military infrastructure and sites designated for the production of ballistic missiles, in addition to neutralizing air defense systems that posed a threat to the attacking aircraft.

The Israeli army spokesperson clarified that the raids targeted a site described as central and most important for the production of missiles and naval mines in the city of Yazd in central Iran. These statements come at a time when reports of targeting hundreds of vital sites are increasing, amidst conflicting news regarding the true extent of losses in Iranian military capabilities.

On the international level, a state of extreme concern prevailed in the corridors of the United Nations and Western capitals, which warned of catastrophic repercussions of this escalation on regional stability. International reports indicated that the continuation of the confrontation could lead to the closure of international shipping lanes, especially the Strait of Hormuz, which would directly affect global energy supplies and oil prices.

With the continued sound of explosions in several areas, the scene remains open to all possibilities in light of mutual threats of retaliation and counter-retaliation. Political circles are awaiting the nature of the next Iranian move, while ambulance teams in various targeted cities continue to retrieve victims and document the severe damage to civilian infrastructure.

The strikes included residential areas and resulted in deaths and injuries, amidst warnings of the region sliding into an open military escalation.