Officials in Qom city, Qom province, confirmed on 27 March that the entire Mehdi family, including women and children, died in an airstrike on the small residential area of Pardisan the previous day. This attack, launched by the United States and Israel on 26 March, struck three apartment buildings in Pardisan, killing at least 18 people and injuring around 10.

Iranian officials condemned the brutal attack, calling it a stark reminder of the devastation Tehran faces in defending its sovereignty. Qom is one of Iran's most sacred cities for Shiite Islam, home to the Hazrat Masoumeh shrine. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Qom emerged as a center of religious power, significantly influencing Iranian politics.

Members of the Mehdi family. *Photo: Tasnim*

The conflict initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran has now lasted one month. In Iran, at least 1,900 people have died and over 20,000 have been injured. Numerous neighborhoods have been flattened, homes destroyed, and families left living on the streets.

Beyond Iran, Lebanon has recorded the second highest number of casualties, with at least 1,142 dead and 3,315 injured from Israeli attacks targeting Hezbollah forces. More than 100 people have also died across Iraq, Israel, and several Gulf states.

Amidst the ongoing conflict, President Donald Trump recently stated that the United States "is talking to the right people, and they are very eager to make a deal" on the Iranian side. However, Iran later refuted this information, with Iranian media quoting a senior official who said Tehran had reviewed and rejected Washington's proposals to end the conflict, deeming them "exorbitant." Senator Marco Rubio predicted on 27 March that the United States would achieve its military objectives in Iran "in the coming weeks," regardless of whether Washington deploys ground troops in the region.

By Huyen Le (Sources: Press TV, Anadolu Agency, CNN)