MAHALLAT, Iran — A devastating night of aerial bombardment has left at least 11 people dead and 15 others wounded in Iran's western Markazi province. Local officials and state media confirmed on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, that a series of strikes—attributed to a joint US-Israeli air offensive—directly targeted residential neighborhoods, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing regional conflict.
The attacks centered on the city of Mahallat, where projectiles reportedly struck three separate residential units throughout the night. According to Hassan Kamari, the deputy governor of Markazi province, the strikes caused four buildings to completely collapse and inflicted severe structural damage on at least four others.
"The targets were civilian areas," Kamari stated in a press briefing on Tuesday morning. "Rescue teams are still working through the rubble of the collapsed apartments to ensure no one else is trapped."
While the strikes in Markazi resulted in 11 fatalities, broader reports indicate that the night’s offensive extended into neighboring Zanjan province. State news agency IRNA reported that a strike hit the historic Jameh Mosque in Zanjan, killing three more individuals. The 19th-century complex's library and meeting hall were reportedly destroyed, and social media footage showed significant damage to the mosque's iconic minarets.
The US and Israel have maintained a sustained air offensive against Iranian targets since February 28, following a period of intense regional friction. Estimates suggest that over 1,340 people have been killed in the month-long campaign, which has seen retaliatory drone and missile strikes from Tehran targeting Israel and surrounding countries hosting US military assets.
The current casualty report confirms 11 deaths in Markazi province, bringing the total to 14 when including the simultaneous strikes in Zanjan. Meanwhile, 15 individuals are receiving treatment at local hospitals for injuries ranging from severe physical trauma to shrapnel wounds.
Beyond the devastating residential collapses in Mahallat, the aerial offensive has crippled local infrastructure, causing widespread disruptions to power grids and communication lines across the western province.
The escalation has drawn swift international condemnation and sparked fears of a total breakdown in regional stability. Foreign ministers from Azerbaijan and Iran have expressed "deep concern" over the rising death toll, while China has warned that strikes targeting Iranian soil represent a "heavy blow" to international non-proliferation efforts.
As aviation authorities report continued disruptions to global flight paths and markets react to the instability near the Strait of Hormuz, the situation remains extremely volatile. The Iranian government has vowed further retaliation, while the US and Israel maintain that the operations are necessary to degrade military capabilities and respond to previous provocations.