Iran death toll passes 1,000 as Senate backs Trump war powers

Yesterday 07:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Iran death toll passes 1,000 as Senate backs Trump war powers

The military confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran entered its sixth day on March 5 with no sign of a ceasefire, as strikes and missile attacks continued across the Middle East and the conflict’s human and economic costs intensified.

Israel launched new waves of air strikes across Tehran and targeted Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, while Iran fired multiple missile barrages toward Israel on March 4. The attacks triggered shelter orders in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and other areas.

Israel’s emergency medical service, Magen David Adom, said the latest Iranian missile launches caused no direct casualties, although debris from intercepted rockets landed in several locations. Since the conflict began on February 28, Iranian missiles have killed at least 10 people in Israel. Nine of those deaths occurred in a single strike on the city of Beit Shemesh.

In Iran, the humanitarian toll has risen sharply. The Iranian Health Ministry reported at least 926 people killed and 6,186 injured as of the evening of March 4, including 180 children under the age of 18. Human rights groups and Al Jazeera estimate the number of deaths has surpassed 1,045.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the American military campaign was intensifying, citing a submarine strike against an Iranian warship and expanded air operations.

The conflict has also spread into Lebanon. Lebanese authorities reported at least 72 people killed, 437 injured and more than 83,000 displaced since Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah positions began on March 2.

Meanwhile, the US Senate voted 53 to 47 to block a bipartisan resolution that would have required congressional authorization for continued military operations against Iran. The measure failed after most Republicans backed President Donald Trump’s authority to carry out what they described as preventive and defensive military action.

Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky was the only member of his party to support the resolution. Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote against it. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and most Republican lawmakers argued that the president had the legal authority to continue military operations.

The US House of Representatives is expected to vote on a separate war powers resolution led by Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he believed there were enough votes to defeat the measure, warning that it could endanger US troops.

The conflict has also triggered major disruptions in global energy markets. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had full control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes.

Brent crude prices have risen more than 13 percent since the start of the conflict. European natural gas prices have surged by more than 70 percent after Qatar suspended liquefied natural gas production following drone strikes attributed to Iran.

Wall Street analysts warned that oil prices could exceed $100 per barrel if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for an extended period.

The conflict has also resulted in US military casualties. Six American service members were confirmed killed in a single Iranian strike on a US base in Kuwait.

President Trump said the operation could last four to five weeks. However, analysts have questioned whether US objectives, including destroying Iran’s missile capabilities, preventing the development of nuclear weapons and weakening the current government, can be achieved within that timeframe.