Dubai: The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported Monday that at least 555 people have been killed across the Islamic Republic since the start of a joint U.S. and Israeli aerial offensive two days ago.

In a statement shared on the messaging app Telegram, the society disclosed that the military campaign has expanded significantly, with 131 cities across the country falling under attack so far.

"Following the Zionist-American terrorist attacks carried out in various regions of our country, 131 cities have been affected to date and, regrettably, 555 of our compatriots have been killed," the Red Crescent stated.

The strikes have reportedly impacted 24 of Iran's 31 provinces, stretching from the central command hubs in Tehran to the coastal regions near the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Red Crescent, the bombardment has affected various urban centres, leading to significant destruction of both administrative and residential areas. Humanitarian workers noted that emergency teams are struggling to navigate the debris in multiple municipalities as the number of "affected" zones continues to climb.

Escalating Casualties

The surge in the death toll, rising from an initial estimate of approximately 200 on Sunday, comes as the Iranian transition leadership struggles to manage the fallout from the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

With inputs from AP