Najmuddin A Farooqi
THE following assessment compiles reported losses and humanitarian consequences arising from the 2026 conflict involving Iran, Israel, the United States and several countries across West Asia.
For Iran, the available figures regarding casualties, infrastructure damage, and economic losses have been derived from Iranian government statements, Iranian state-affiliated media, Xinhua, the official news agency of China and RIA Novosti, the official news agency of Russia.
For other countries, information has primarily been drawn from established international and regional media organisations and humanitarian agencies, including Al Jazeera, BBC News, CNN, Sky News, Haaretz, The New York Times, The Hindu and United Nations agencies.
The losses have been categorised into four comparative sections:
- Table A: Casualties
- Table B: Injuries
- Table C: Infrastructure and Military Damage
- Table D: Economic and Currency Losses
Countries examined include the United States, Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.
Table A — Reported Fatalities
| Country/Entity | Reported Fatalities |
| Iran | 3,000–3,600+ |
| Lebanon | 2,702 |
| Israel | 26 |
| United States Military | 13 |
| UAE | 12 |
| Iraq | 118 |
| Kuwait | 7 |
| Palestine / Gaza | 4 |
| Syria | 4 |
| Saudi Arabia | 3 |
| Bahrain | 3 |
| Oman | 3 |
Table B — Reported Injuries
| Country/Entity | Reported Injuries |
| Iran | 26,500+ |
| Lebanon | 8,311 |
| Israel | 7,791 |
| UAE | 224 |
| United States Military | 381 |
| Saudi Arabia | 29 |
| Jordan | 29 |
| Qatar | 20 |
| Oman | 16 |
| Iraq | Dozens |
| Kuwait | Dozens |
| Bahrain | Dozens |
Table C — Infrastructure and Military Damage
| Country | Reported Infrastructure/Strategic Damage |
| Iran | Extensive destruction of residential areas, bridges, railways, airports, petrochemical facilities, pipelines, steel plants, schools, hospitals, and historic sites |
| Israel | Missile interception costs, localised infrastructure disruptions, and damage in border regions |
| Lebanon | Residential destruction, healthcare damage, and a displacement crisis |
| UAE | Energy and aviation disruptions in limited areas |
| Saudi Arabia | Security and energy-sector precautionary disruptions |
| Bahrain | Limited infrastructure and security-related impacts |
| Kuwait | Disruptions to logistics and military coordination facilities |
| Oman | Minor infrastructure disruptions |
| US Military Installations | Damage and casualties reported at selected regional facilities |
| Table D — Economic and Currency Losses |
| Country | Estimated Economic / Wartime Cost |
| Iran | Approximately 270 billion USD |
| United States | Approximately 25–35 billion USD |
| Israel | Approximately 3 billion USD |
| UAE | Approximately 1.3–2.6 billion USD |
| Saudi Arabia | Approximately 2.4–2.5 billion USD |
| Kuwait | Approximately 1.5 billion USD |
| Bahrain | Approximately 787 million USD |
Currency Conflict
| Currency | Reported Movement |
| US Dollar | Remained relatively stable |
| Israeli Shekel | Marginal appreciation |
| Iranian Rial | Depreciated from approximately 600,000 per USD to nearly 1,330,000 per USD |
Humanitarian Situation
Iran
According to the Iranian Ministry of Health, casualties were reported across at least 20 of the country’s 31 provinces, particularly in Tehran and Hormozgan. By late March 2026, Iranian authorities reportedly estimated:
- Around 23,000 total casualties
- More than 1,800 children affected
- Approximately 4,150 women affected
- Deaths and injuries among healthcare workers and relief personnel
The Iranian Red Crescent Society also reported casualties among emergency responders and humanitarian staff.
The conflict reportedly displaced large numbers of civilians, severely affecting livelihoods, healthcare access, education and transportation. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees stated that tens of thousands crossed into neighbouring countries during the early stages of the conflict, while many later returned.
International humanitarian operations continued through agencies, including:
- World Food Programme
- UNICEF
- United Nations Development Programme
- United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
These agencies reportedly focused on food distribution, healthcare, shelter, education and water access.
Lebanon
The Ministry of Public Health reportedly documented over 1,000 deaths and more than 3,000 injuries, while more than one million people were displaced.
The World Health Organisation reportedly documented repeated impacts on healthcare workers and medical facilities.
Damage to Infrastructure in Iran
Civilian and Residential Damage
Reports from Iranian authorities and affiliated media indicated widespread destruction across Tehran and other provinces.
Reported estimates included:
- Between 87,000 and 125,000 civilian structures damaged or destroyed
- Approximately 100,000 residential units affected nationwide
- Nearly 45,000 homes in Tehran are partially destroyed or require demolition
- Around 23,500 commercial establishments were destroyed
Transportation infrastructure reportedly sustained major damage, including bridges, railways and airport-linked facilities.
Satellite imagery and media footage also reportedly showed damage to a major bridge in Karaj and infrastructure associated with Tehran’s airport systems.
Healthcare and Educational Facilities
Reports indicated damage to:
- More than 300 healthcare facilities
- Approximately 700–900 schools and universities
- Multiple hospitals and Red Crescent centres.
Several healthcare facilities were reportedly forced to suspend operations during intense phases of hostilities.
Energy and Industrial Sector
Iranian and regional reports described significant disruption to strategic industrial capacity, including:
- Up to 85% disruption in petrochemical export capacity
- Damage to pipelines and industrial plants in Isfahan and Khuzestan
- Reported impacts on Mahshahr and South Pars energy hubs
- More than 70% disruption to steel production capacity
- Major transportation network disruptions
Cultural and Historic Sites
Iranian authorities and media outlets also reported damage to cultural and historic locations.
Estimates suggested that between 83 and 120 historic structures, museums and monuments sustained varying degrees of damage.
Among the affected locations was Golestan Palace, a UNESCO-recognised historic site. Media photographs reportedly showed both interior and exterior damage to several heritage structures in Tehran province.
Casualties and Loss of Life in Iran
Reports cited by Xinhua News Agency, RIA Novosti, and regional media estimated:
- Between 3,000 and 3,600 deaths
- More than 26,000 injuries
- Significant civilian casualties during the initial phases of the conflict
Early Iranian statements at the United Nations reportedly claimed more than 1,300 civilian deaths during the opening weeks of the war, with later estimates placing civilian deaths above 1,700.
Observations from Reported Sources
The cited reports collectively emphasised the extensive humanitarian and economic consequences of the conflict, particularly in Iran and Lebanon.
The reported damage extended beyond military targets and reportedly affected civilian infrastructure, including:
- Homes
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Transportation systems
- Energy facilities
- Industrial sectors
- Cultural heritage sites
Iranian officials reportedly indicated that they may pursue international compensation claims for the large-scale destruction and economic losses resulting from the conflict.
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Najmuddin A Farooqi is a Lucknow-based journalist and writer. His areas of interest are social, economic, education and health. The views expressed here are the author’s own and Clarion India does not necessarily subscribe to them.
