Toll from US-Israel strikes on Iran rises to 787 amid escalation in Middle East
The death toll from US-Israeli strikes against Iran, which began on February 28 and resulted in the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rose to 787, state media reported on Tuesday, citing the Iranian Red Crescent. On Monday, the death toll was at 555, India Today reported.
The US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, now in its fourth consecutive day, has intensified into one of the most serious Middle East conflicts in recent decades, triggering widespread attacks, diplomatic fallout and deepening regional instability.
The confrontation began after US-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory, which targeted what Washington described as strategic military and government leadership infrastructure inside Iran. The strikes have claimed the lives of top military and political leaders, including Khamenei and other members of his family, according to India Today.
US delegate urges exit from Sinai Peninsula
The United States ambassador to Israel advised Americans to leave through Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula as tensions escalate. Ambassador Mike Huckabee said the embassy was receiving numerous evacuation requests while staff remained sheltered in place, according to AP.
In a social media post early Tuesday, Huckabee warned there were “very limited options” for departure. He said it was unclear when Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv would reopen.
He recommended that Americans travel by bus to Egypt’s southern Sinai resorts, including Sharm el-Sheikh and Taba, describing that route as the best available option, AP wrote
Airstrike hits Kerman base in Iran
Airstrikes targeting an air base in Kerman killed at least 13 troops, local media reported. The attack struck the Kerman Air Base, located about 800 kilometers southeast of Tehran.
The semi-official Tasnim News Agency and the Hammihan daily newspaper said the casualties were confirmed following the strike.
Further details about the timing and extent of the damage were not immediately available, according to AP.
The Kerman Air Base is known to house military helicopters and other equipment.
Drone hits Duqm fuel tank
Oman said a drone struck a fuel tank at its port in Duqm on Tuesday, raising security concerns in the region, wrote AP. Authorities confirmed the incident but provided limited details about the source of the attack.
The state-run Oman News Agency reported that no injuries were recorded in the strike. Duqm has served as a key resupply route for the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is currently operating in the Arabian Sea, highlighting the port’s strategic importance amid rising regional tensions.
