Xinhua
10 Mar 2026

JERUSALEM, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military has killed about 1,900 Iranian soldiers and commanders since the start of the conflict, military spokesman Effie Defrin said on Monday, adding that Israel did not rule out targeting Iran's newly announced supreme leader.

Speaking at a press briefing, Defrin also confirmed that a second person was killed earlier on Monday in an Iranian missile attack in Israel, bringing the total death toll from Iranian attacks in the country to 12 civilians, in addition to two soldiers killed in combat with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

According to the Israeli Health Ministry, a total of 2,238 people in Israel have been evacuated to hospitals since the beginning of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, with 91 of them still in hospitals.

Defrin said the air force continued its attacks on Monday with strikes in Tehran, Isfahan and southern Iran.

Since the beginning of the U.S.-Israeli attack on Feb. 28, Israeli warplanes have struck six military airports in Iran and targeted the Quds Force's transportation aircraft array, destroying 16 cargo aircraft that, according to Defrin, were used to transport weapons and money to Iran's allies in the region.

Israeli airstrikes also continued in Beirut, where, according to Defrin, they targeted 35 high-rise buildings used by Hezbollah. More than 700 Hezbollah sites were struck in Lebanon, he said.

He said Israeli attacks would continue "as long as needed."

Asked whether Israel planned to target Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, whose appointment was announced on Sunday, Defrin said: "Anyone who poses a threat will be struck."