‘Israel’ targets civilians in Tehran; most victims are kids
3 Min Read
As Israeli strikes intensify, Iranian hospitals are overwhelmed with wounded civilians.
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In this photo released by the Iranian Red Crescent Society, rescuers work at the scene of an explosion after an Israeli strike in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 13, 2025. (Iranian Red Crescent Society via AP)
The emergency department at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini hospital was hit by a surge of injuries late Sunday night following direct Israeli airstrikes on the city. Medical staff described the aftermath as a “bloodbath” as victims from nearby blasts overwhelmed the facility.
“It was a bloodbath. We were overwhelmed by chaos and the screams of grieving family members. Dozens upon dozens of people with life-threatening injuries, minor wounds, and even bodies were brought in,” one doctor, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Guardian.
The #Iranian Taekwondo Federation has mourned the martyrdom of child athlete Amir Ali Amini, a member of the national youth team.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) June 15, 2025
Amir is among the many children killed in the Israeli aggression on #Iran.
According to unofficial reports, at least 60 people have been martyred… pic.twitter.com/0KUCsalsh6
The Israeli war on Iran, now entering its fifth day, has rapidly overwhelmed the medical infrastructure in the capital. Doctors and nurses face an unrelenting stream of wounded patients amid continuing attacks, forcing some hospitals to redirect non-critical patients to other facilities.
Mounting civilian casualties
“I’ve seen toddlers, teenagers, adults, and the elderly alike. Profusely bleeding mothers were rushing in with their children injured by shrapnel,” the doctor continued. “Some parents didn’t even realise they were hurt until they laid their children down.”
The range of injuries reported includes embedded metal shards, internal bleeding, and burns. According to Iranian officials, over 1,270 people have been hospitalized since the start of the Israeli aggression, with 224 confirmed killed. However, medical staff believe the real toll is significantly higher.
Hossein Kermanpour, spokesperson for Iran’s Health Ministry, confirmed that over 90% of those affected were civilians. Despite these figures, Israeli officials continue to claim that the airstrikes are limited to "regime-linked targets". “When we control the skies over Tehran, we are hitting these targets, the targets of the regime,” claimed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a visit to a central airbase.
#WATCH | Footage of the Israeli aggression on a residential area in #Tehran, attacking civilians.#Iran pic.twitter.com/Dviy6dG7dj
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) June 15, 2025
Yet, civilian infrastructure has repeatedly been hit. "Israel" bombed a hospital in Kermanshah and targeted the state broadcaster’s compound.
Children with shattered limbs, doctors brace for more casualties
It is worth noting that Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has issued an open threat against civilians in Tehran on Monday, vowing that they will pay the price.
“The residents of Tehran will pay the price, and soon,” he vowed, in a direct threat to civilians in the Iranian capital.
Medical personnel have been working nonstop since the first strikes, often without food or rest. Children as young as four were reportedly brought in with shattered limbs due to blast pressure. “We haven’t had the time to eat or drink. I fear after this morning we are going to have more bodies coming in,” said another medic.
