TEHRAN (Dunya News) – The death toll in Iran has climbed to 787 on the fourth day of intense hostilities, as the United States and Israel expanded their strikes across the country.
The rapidly escalating conflict has heightened fears of a wider regional war, with officials on all sides signalling preparations for a prolonged confrontation.
According to Iranian reports, US and Israeli forces targeted 504 locations across 153 cities. In Tehran, around 100 aircraft were used in an attack on what was described as a leadership complex. Israeli authorities have also claimed strikes on Iran’s presidential office, the building of the Supreme National Security Council and a military training centre.
Explosions were reported in multiple cities, including Kerman, Isfahan and Shiraz. Iranian sources said 18 members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were among those killed. The overall death toll, including political and military officials as well as civilians, has risen to 787.
In the city of Minab, funeral prayers were held for schoolgirls killed in a strike on a girls’ school. Thousands attended the funeral, chanting slogans against Israel and the United States. Iranian officials said 165 students were killed in the attack.
US President Donald Trump said Iran’s air defence systems, air force, navy and leadership had been effectively neutralised. He added that Tehran was seeking talks but claimed it was now too late for negotiations.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on social media platform X that government operations inside the country were continuing despite the wartime situation. He said he remained in direct contact with provincial governors and described the situation as extraordinary but insisted the state system remained functional and routine activities were continuing nationwide.
Australia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards carried out an attack targeting a US military gathering in Dubai. A spokesperson said Australian personnel were present at Al Minhad Air Base but all were safe. Around 100 Australian troops are currently deployed across the Middle East, most of them in the UAE.
US Central Command confirmed that six American soldiers were killed in Iranian attacks. In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said the remains of two previously missing troops had also been recovered. The two soldiers had died during Iran’s initial strikes.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings to residents in two neighbourhoods of southern Beirut, urging people to stay away from several buildings ahead of expected operations. In a Telegram message, the military also issued emergency alerts for residents in 59 areas of Lebanon, advising them to leave their homes immediately for their safety.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence reported partial damage to a building in a separate incident but said there were no casualties because the structure was unoccupied. Reports indicated that two explosions were heard in the diplomatic quarter after two drones collided with the US embassy.
President Trump warned that the attack on the US embassy in Riyadh would be met with a response soon, adding that retaliation would include avenging the deaths of American soldiers.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told eight members of Congress during a briefing on Capitol Hill that Israel had been preparing to strike Iran and that the United States risked becoming a target in response. He said a purely defensive posture could have resulted in heavier American casualties.
Congressman Joaquin Castro criticised the situation, saying Israel had pushed the United States into danger by provoking strikes on Iran. He added that the Trump administration had joined the conflict instead of restraining Israel.
According to Bloomberg, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have urged allies to help reduce tensions over Iran. Both countries are reportedly seeking to build a broader coalition aimed at achieving an immediate diplomatic solution to the conflict and preventing further escalation across the region. The report added that Abu Dhabi and Doha are particularly concerned about containing the crisis and avoiding a surge in global energy prices.