Three civilians killed in US-Israeli attack on major mosque in NW Iran

At least three civilians have been killed and a dozen others sustained injuries when a US-Israeli airstrike targeted the premises of a prominent mosque in Iran’s northwestern city of Zanjan, where Muharram mourning ceremonies are held.

Ali Sadeghi, deputy director of political, security and social affairs at the provincial governor’s office, said the aerial raid took place at around 5 a.m. local time (0130 GMT) on Tuesday, and hit the Grand Hussainiya of Zanjan.

He added that rescue teams have so far managed to recover three dead bodies from under the rubble.

He added that those wounded in the act of aggression were quickly transferred to nearby medical centers to receive treatment.

Sadeghi further noted that rescue operations are underway at the site with the participation of teams from the Red Crescent Society, the fire department, and Zanjan Municipality.

The provincial official noted that the administrative building, guesthouse, library, savings bank, as well as a number of adjacent shops, sustained damage in the assault.

The aggression came a day after four civilians lost their lives and 16 others suffered injuries in a US-Israeli strike on an apartment in the same Iranian city.

Sadeghi said fourteen people were treated at the site, while the remaining two were hospitalized due to the severity of their injuries.

The United States and Israel initiated a large-scale and unprovoked war on February 28, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military commanders and civilians.

The aggression has comprised a series of intensive strikes on both military installations and civilian facilities throughout Iran, leading to considerable loss of life and widespread damage to infrastructure.

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces carried out waves of retaliatory missile and drone operations against US interests across West Asia and Israeli positions in the occupied territories.

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