Israeli Airstrike on Red Crescent Ambulance near Urmia

On the afternoon/evening of Saturday, 14 June 2025 (24 Khordad 1404), the second day of the Twelve-Day War, Israeli forces struck Red Crescent ambulances and rescue teams that were en route to provide emergency medical assistance following reported explosions at the Al-Mahdi military barracks in Urmia, West Azerbaijan Province. The Iranian Red Crescent Society confirmed in an official statement that its rescue forces and ambulances "came under direct Israeli attack," resulting in the deaths of two humanitarian workers. Tasnim news agency, which first reported the explosion at the barracks, stated that the rescuers were struck while heading toward the scene of an earlier Israeli attack. The identities of the two killed were not publicly disclosed by any source. The strike occurred hours after a separate Red Crescent member had already been killed on 13 June in East Azerbaijan Province while providing emergency aid. Throughout the twelve-day conflict, the IRCS recorded at least six ambulances put out of service, and a blood transfusion center in West Azerbaijan Province was also reported damaged. The IFRC confirmed the broader pattern of five IRCS staff and volunteers killed across the duration of the conflict.