Airstrike near Shahid Kasayi Highway, Tabriz

On Thursday, 14 Esfand 1404 (5 March 2026), an airstrike struck two military sites in East Azerbaijan Province, one of which was located near the southern edge of the Shahid Kasayi Highway. Rokna Witnesses reported that explosions were heard from the direction of the Kasayi Highway at approximately 05:38–05:40 in the morning. EuroNews

The Shahid Kasayi Highway is an 18-kilometre urban motorway running along the southern boundary of Tabriz, connecting the southeast of the city to the southwest. It functions as one of Iran's busiest transit corridors and carries significant civilian commuter traffic in the early morning hours.

The strike and its casualties are part of a broader pattern of aerial attacks on Tabriz during the war that began on 9 Esfand 1404. According to the East Azerbaijan Province Crisis Management Authority, the total number of casualties in the province from the start of the war reached 95 killed and 558 wounded. SNN Tabriz was subsequently added to the list of cities sustaining damage to historical districts. Khabar Foori

The proximity of a heavily trafficked civilian artery to the alleged military target raises serious concerns under the principles of distinction and proportionality enshrined in International Humanitarian Law. No warning to civilian road users was reported prior to the strike.