One week after Israel and the USA began attacks on Iran, aid organizations report hundreds dead and thousands injured among civilians. Reports from Tehran and Isfahan describe heavy bombings and growing panic. New analyses point to a US strike on a girls' school.
The war between Israel, the USA, and Iran has dramatically intensified in its first week. Israel and the USA launched bombings a week ago on Saturday, resulting in the death of religious leader Ali Chamenei from Israeli bombs. Exiled Iranians and some citizens in the country initially celebrated, as videos from Iranian cities showed. One Iranian said on Deutschlandfunk: 'So or so we will die, whether from an attack from abroad – or on the streets. I don't like my country being attacked. But the regime leaves no other choice.' Another stated in a social media video: 'If I die for freedom, my child will at least have a future.'
Iranian media reported nationwide attacks on Friday: Near Isfahan, three small towns were bombed, with injuries, damaged homes, and vehicles in the east of the city. In Tehran, home to around 15 million people, residents heard the roar of low-flying fighter jets early Friday morning. The Iranian Red Crescent published photos of destroyed houses in major cities and estimates around 800 dead by Friday, while state-affiliated sources report over 1000 civilian deaths. The numbers are hard to verify, as the regime has largely cut off internet access. Only state media and Russian agencies publish freely. BBC journalists shared reports from Tehran: The night to Friday saw the heaviest bombing of the capital. One resident called it 'hell on earth': 'It was terrible. They hit so hard that all the windows shook. Like a dragon making noise.'
Israel's military reports 1600 flights and 4000 munitions since the war began, more than in last summer's 12-day war. Around 300 rocket launchers in Iran were destroyed to reduce attacks on Israeli civilians. In Israel, 11 people died from Iranian rockets, dozens were injured. Aid organizations estimate 100,000 internally displaced or fled from Iran. In Lebanon, clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli army displaced over 80,000 people, mainly from the south.
A clearer case is the attack on a girls' school in southern Iran on the morning of February 28. Israel denies involvement. New York Times satellite images point to a US missile. The school was near a Revolutionary Guards naval base, previously military grounds, which was also hit. Evidence suggests a targeting error. Iran claims 175 deaths, which cannot be verified.
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) expressed doubts about the war's necessity: 'This regime is a terror regime that threatens Israel and the entire region, suppresses its own population, and has murdered tens of thousands. But [...] one should have focused more on negotiations beforehand.' He questions its legality under international law and warns of economic consequences like rising energy prices.