Iran Reports Mounting Civilian Toll Following Intense U.S. Strikes

Iranian Ambassador to the UN Amir-Saeid Iravani has accused U.S. and Israeli forces of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals. Iranian authorities claim that nearly 10,000 civilian sites have been hit, resulting in more than 1,300 deaths since the outbreak of hostilities. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth identified March 10 as the most intensive day of U.S. operations to date, while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that seven U.S. troops have been killed and 140 service members injured by Iranian regional strikes. In Washington, the Trump administration is preparing to submit a supplemental defense budget request to Congress this week. The move follows reports that the first two days of the conflict alone cost $5.6 billion in munitions. Despite the heavy bombardment, internal dissent continues within Iran, as protesters have released videos condemning the regime. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers, led by Senator Richard Blumenthal, have expressed grave concern over the potential deployment of American special forces to secure Iranian enriched uranium sites. The conflict is exerting significant pressure on global energy markets and regional U.S. allies. Drone strikes on shipping near the Strait of Hormuz have prompted emergency oil reserve releases, including a historic move by Canada. Analysts warn that Gulf nations hosting U.S. bases, such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, remain highly vulnerable to retaliatory Iranian strikes. Experts suggest these nations are acting as "magnets" for escalation that could have catastrophic consequences for regional stability.