TEHRAN : The Iranian government has released updated figures revealing the extensive damage inflicted on civilian infrastructure and the mounting human toll after waves of US-Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic, with officials reporting nearly 43,000 buildings destroyed and hundreds of women, teachers, and students among the martyred .
Fatemeh Mohajerani, the government spokesperson, detailed the scope of destruction across residential, commercial, health, and education sectors during a press briefing on Saturday, painting a grim picture of 15 days of continuous bombardment .
According to the latest figures, 42,914 civilian buildings have been damaged or destroyed in the attacks, which began on February 28. Of these, 36,489 were residential units, leaving thousands of families homeless. An additional 6,179 commercial facilities have also sustained damage, dealing a severe blow to local economies .
The capital city of Tehran has been particularly hard hit, with approximately 10,000 of the damaged homes located in the province. The intensity of the bombing campaign has transformed parts of the city, with residents describing the experience as “hell on earth” and noting empty streets and a lingering smell of gunpowder .
Healthcare Under Attack
The attacks have severely compromised Iran’s healthcare infrastructure, with Mohajerani reporting that 43 emergency medical centers sustained damage, including three units that were completely destroyed. Additionally, 32 ambulances were affected by the strikes, hampering emergency response capabilities .
Further details from the government spokesperson indicated that 35 medical units and 152 health units have been damaged, with the death toll in the health sector reaching more than 16 people .
Among the most prominent medical facilities hit was Tehran’s Gandhi Hospital, which sustained significant damage on Sunday. Verified video of the hospital showed extensive destruction, with debris and glass falling as civilians watched on. Mohammad Raeiszadeh, the head of Iran’s Medical Council, told state media that the hospital’s in-vitro fertilisation department was destroyed along with its equipment, forcing staff to move cells and embryos .
The World Health Organization’s Director General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described reports of damage to the hospital as “extremely worrying,” emphasizing that “health facilities are protected under international humanitarian law” .
