- Civilian Deaths Reported as Regional Strikes Escalate
Tehran/Washington March 10, 2026 (Agencies) – The war between the United States and Iran has entered its tenth day, with fighting spreading across the Middle East and civilian casualties mounting.
Iranian media reported that five people were killed in a US–Israeli airstrike that hit a residential building in Arak, western Iran. The attack underscores the growing toll on non-combatants as the conflict intensifies.
Iran has launched drone and missile attacks across the region, targeting energy infrastructure in particular. Strikes have hit oilfields in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, while the Iranian army said it also attacked an Israeli oil and gas refinery and fuel tanks in Haifa.
The Israeli military has warned of upcoming strikes in southern Lebanon, specifically in Tyre and Sidon, saying it will target Hezbollah positions “in the near future.” Over the past week, Israel claims to have hit about 30 sites linked to Al-Qard al-Hasan, a Hezbollah-affiliated charity it accuses of financing militant activities.
Diplomatic tensions are deepening. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that “talking or negotiating with the US is no longer on the agenda,” citing failed nuclear talks that preceded the current war. Meanwhile, Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Iraq must not be used as a launch pad for attacks against Iran, signaling Baghdad’s unease at being drawn into the conflict.
The war began on February 28 with US–Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities. Since then, Washington claims to have hit more than 5,000 targets, while Iran insists its missile program remains intact, deploying projectiles with warheads weighing over one tonne.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to retaliate “20 times harder” if Iran disrupts oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, even as he suggested the war could end “very soon.” Global oil prices remain volatile, surging above $100 per barrel before stabilizing below $90 after temporary US sanction waivers.