Iran Health Ministry Reports 35 Dead in Recent US Strikes Across Southern Provinces

TEHRAN — Iran's Health Ministry announced Monday that at least 35 people have been killed and more than 300 wounded in a series of United States military strikes conducted earlier this month across the country's southern border regions. The casualties occurred primarily in Hormozgan, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Khuzestan provinces.

The ministry stated that medical teams are treating injured survivors at local hospitals while emergency response units continue to assess damage at impact sites. Officials described the attacks as a significant escalation of recent tensions between Tehran and Washington, marking one of the deadliest incidents involving US forces in Iranian territory since 2019.

While Iran has attributed the fatalities directly to American military action, no official statement from the White House or the Pentagon regarding these specific strikes was available at press time. The United States has previously conducted targeted operations against militant groups operating within and across borders in the region but has not publicly detailed recent kinetic actions inside Iranian sovereign territory.

The affected provinces are strategically significant for Iran's energy infrastructure and border security. Hormozgan, home to the critical Strait of Hormuz, saw reports of explosions near coastal areas. Sistan and Baluchestan, a province with active separatist movements, reported strikes in remote desert zones. Khuzestan, which hosts major oil refineries, experienced damage in industrial outskirts.

Local officials in the three provinces have declared states of emergency to facilitate rescue operations and manage public order. Funeral processions for victims are expected to take place over the coming days as families gather in affected cities. Iranian state media has broadcast footage of destroyed buildings and ambulances transporting casualties, reinforcing the government's narrative that civilian infrastructure was compromised.

The incident raises questions about the immediate future of diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington. The United Nations Security Council is expected to convene an emergency session later this week as regional allies urge restraint to prevent a broader conflict. However, with no ceasefire agreement in place and retaliatory rhetoric rising from Iranian hardline factions, the potential for further military exchanges remains high.

As of Monday evening, the full extent of long-term infrastructure damage has not been confirmed by independent observers. The Health Ministry indicated that casualty figures could rise as more injured patients succumb to their wounds or if additional victims are discovered in rubble. International humanitarian organizations have expressed concern over access restrictions preventing aid delivery to some strike zones.

The situation remains fluid, with both nations maintaining heightened military readiness along the Persian Gulf and border regions.