The ferocity of US-Israel attacks on Iran has claimed more than 555 lives, according to Iran’s Red Crescent, as the conflict rages into day three. Compounding the tragedy, a nationwide internet blackout exceeding 48 hours has plunged the country into digital darkness, echoing previous government crackdowns.
Netblocks, a cybersecurity monitor, highlighted on social media that such shutdowns are tools to obscure atrocities, as seen in January’s prolonged outage. Tehran awoke to new blasts on Monday, while Sanandaj in western Iran endured a missile onslaught on civilian zones, per Tasnim News. Images depict rescuers digging through collapsed buildings, with IRNA reporting three deaths there.
Damage extended to healthcare: Tehran’s Gandhi Hospital suffered heavy hits, leading to patient evacuations amid scenes of chaos—piles of rubble, broken windows, and emergency responders in overdrive, as broadcast by IRIB.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced one Chinese citizen killed in Tehran amid the military exchanges, offering sympathies to the family. About 3,000 Chinese have been safely extracted from the volatile region by March 2. Iran persists in hitting American positions overseas, but the human cost at home is skyrocketing. With connectivity crippled, verifying events becomes a herculean task, fueling global anxiety over the spiraling crisis.