27 March 2026 · BBC
Civilian Cost of War in Iran
The article highlights the tragic stories of civilians affected by the ongoing war in Iran, including a pharmacist and a young girl who lost their lives due to airstrikes.
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41 words · ~1 min readStandard version (B1-B2)
Standard: natural English
60 words · ~1 min readAdvanced version (C1-C2)
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96 words · ~1 min readLesson audio
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Narration includes the headline and summary.
Adapted from BBC and rewritten at three levels by Newslish. Newslish is not affiliated with the source. Read the original.
Key vocabulary
civilian
a person who is not a member of the military or armed forces
“The ongoing war has resulted in many civilian casualties.”
casualty
a person killed or injured in a war or accident
“The conflict has led to significant casualties among innocent people.”
heartbreaking
causing overwhelming distress or sorrow
“The heartbreaking stories of victims are often overlooked in discussions about war.”
explosion
a violent burst or rupture, often causing damage or destruction
“An explosion occurred while the pharmacist was assisting patients.”
airstrike
an attack by military aircraft dropping bombs on a target
“The young girl was injured in an airstrike that targeted her neighborhood.”
Quick quiz
01What profession did Parastesh Dahaghin have?
02How old was Eilmah Bilki when she died?
03What tragic event led to the death of Parastesh Dahaghin?
Discussion
How can the international community better support civilians affected by war?