Iranian state media reported that at least 18 people were killed in an airstrike targeting Alborz Province in northern Iran early on April 7, 2026. The strikes, part of the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, have heightened tensions as the five-week-old war continues with no immediate signs of de-escalation.
Alborz Province, located just west of Tehran and home to the provincial capital Karaj, has seen repeated strikes in recent weeks. Iranian outlets, including the semiofficial Fars News Agency, described the latest incident as hitting areas in the province, resulting in significant casualties, including reports of two children among the dead in some accounts.
Context of the Ongoing Iran Conflict
The war, which began with large-scale US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28, 2026, has focused on degrading Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, nuclear-related sites, and military infrastructure. Iranian media frequently highlight civilian casualties, while US and Israeli sources emphasize targeting military assets used for missile and drone operations.
- Recent strikes have also hit areas southwest of Tehran (such as Eslamshahr, with 13+ reported deaths), Qom, and other provinces.
- Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets and infrastructure in Gulf countries.
- The death toll across Iran has exceeded 1,900 according to some reports, though official figures are not consistently updated.
No immediate claim of responsibility for the April 7 Alborz strike was detailed in initial Iranian reports, but the pattern aligns with the ongoing joint US-Israeli air campaign.