BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 12. Following the
escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, more than 1,800
people have been killed in Iran, Lebanon and Israel, while at least
12,500 others have been injured, Director-General of the World
Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, Trend reports.


According to him, the death toll in Iran has exceeded 1,300
people, while more than 9,000 have been injured.


In Lebanon, at least 570 people have been killed and more than
1,400 injured. In Israel, 15 people have been killed and 2,142
others have been injured.


The WHO chief also noted an increase in attacks on healthcare
facilities. According to him, since February 28, 18 attacks on
healthcare facilities have been recorded in Iran, 25 in Lebanon and
two in Israel.


Ghebreyesus stressed that such strikes not only cause casualties
but also deprive the population of access to vital medical
care.


Since no concrete agreement was reached in negotiations between
the United States (U.S.) and Iran over the nuclear program, the
U.S. and Israel began military airstrikes against Iran on February
28. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel
and U.S. military facilities located in countries across the
region, starting the same day.







On the first day of the air strikes against Iran, Iran’s Supreme
Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking
military officials were killed. On March 8, Iran’s Assembly of
Experts elected Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah
Seyyed Ali Khamenei, as Iran’s third Supreme Leader by majority
vote.


Between March 1 and March 5, the confrontation expanded further,
affecting several countries across the Middle East.


According to reports, the U.S. side suffered losses of 8 dead
and more than 140 wounded.


As a result of the conflict, the region’s energy infrastructure
and maritime transportation have also come under serious risk. Due
to heightened security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, global
oil prices have surged sharply, and several countries have urged
their citizens to leave the region.