Fact Check: Iranian Diplomat Claims 78 Killed in Israeli Strikes on June 13, 2023
What We Know
On June 13, 2023, Iranian officials reported that 78 individuals had been killed and over 320 injured due to Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and military sites. This claim was made by Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, who stated, "So far, 78 people, including senior military officials, have been martyred and over 320 other injured" (source-2). Multiple news outlets corroborated this information, with reports indicating that the casualties included high-ranking military personnel and that the strikes were part of escalating tensions between Iran and Israel (source-1, source-3).
Analysis
The claim that 78 people were killed and over 320 injured in the Israeli strikes is supported by various sources, including the Iranian ambassador's statements and reports from international news agencies. The consistency across multiple outlets lends credibility to the assertion. For instance, the Washington Post and France 24 both reported similar figures, citing the Iranian government as the source of the casualty numbers.
However, it is important to note that casualty figures in conflict situations can often be politically charged and may be subject to exaggeration or manipulation for propaganda purposes. The Iranian government has a vested interest in portraying the impact of Israeli strikes in a manner that galvanizes domestic and international support against Israel. Therefore, while the numbers reported are consistent across multiple credible sources, the potential for bias must be acknowledged.
Additionally, the context of the strikes—escalating military actions between Iran and Israel—suggests that the situation is fluid and the casualty figures may evolve as more information becomes available (source-6, source-7).
Conclusion
The claim that an Iranian diplomat reported 78 people killed and over 320 injured in the initial Israeli strikes on June 13, 2023, is True. This conclusion is based on multiple corroborating reports from reputable news sources, all citing the Iranian ambassador's statements. While the potential for bias exists, the consistency of the reports lends credibility to the claim.
Sources
- Iranian missiles strike Haifa as Israeli air force attacks Tehran
- Iranian UN envoy claims 78 killed in Israeli strikes
- Iranian missiles slam Israel, causing casualties after strikes ...
- Iran's UN ambassador says 78 killed in Israel attacks
- Iran's UN ambassador says 78 people have been 'martyred ...
- Live updates: Iran retaliates against Israel for strikes on ...
- Iran hits Israel with air strikes after nuclear site attacks ...
- Iran says 78 killed by Israeli strikes on Tehran
