Middle East Conflict Toll: Over 1,300 Killed in Iran, 570 in Lebanon, 15 in Israel — Reports
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that health systems across the Middle East are under immense strain as the conflict in the region persists.
In a post on X, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said reports indicate that more than 1,300 people have been killed and over 9,000 injured in Iran, while at least 570 people have died and more than 1,400 have been injured in Lebanon. In Israel, authorities have reported 15 deaths and 2,142 injuries.
He also said attacks on health care are increasing, with the WHO verifying 18 attacks on health facilities in Iran, 25 in Lebanon, and two in Israel since February 28, resulting in deaths among health workers and damage to medical infrastructure.
Tedros warned that public health risks are rising as displacement grows. More than 100,000 people in Iran and up to 700,000 in Lebanon have been displaced, many living in overcrowded shelters with limited access to clean water and sanitation, increasing the risk of disease among vulnerable populations, especially women and children.
He added that the crisis is being compounded by health facility closures, including 49 primary health care centres and five hospitals in Lebanon that have shut down due to evacuation orders. Access to medical services is also severely restricted in the Gaza Strip and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
According to Tedros, airspace restrictions are disrupting medical supply chains, creating major backlogs of essential health supplies for more than 1.5 million people across 25 countries.
The WHO chief urged all parties to protect civilians and health facilities, allow humanitarian access, and work toward de-escalation of the conflict, adding that “peace is the best medicine.”