Fact Check: "Iranian media reported that nearly 80 civilians were killed and more than 300 were wounded in the Israeli air strikes on October 20, 2023."
What We Know
On October 20, 2023, Iranian officials reported that Israeli air strikes resulted in significant civilian casualties. Specifically, Iran's U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani stated that "78 people were killed and over 320 injured" due to these strikes, emphasizing that "the overwhelming majority" of the victims were civilians, including women and children (AP News). This claim was echoed by various Iranian media outlets, which reported similar figures regarding the casualties from the air strikes (Dunya News, Channel News Asia).
Analysis
The claim that nearly 80 civilians were killed and more than 300 were wounded is supported by multiple sources, including official statements from Iranian representatives and reports from Iranian media. The consistency across these reports lends credibility to the figures presented. For instance, the Iranian news agency Fars reported that "80 civilians were killed and more than 300 wounded," corroborating the ambassador's statement (Channel News Asia).
However, it is essential to consider the potential for bias in these reports. Iranian state media may have an incentive to exaggerate casualties to garner sympathy and support for their narrative against Israel. Furthermore, the context of ongoing military conflict and propaganda efforts from both sides complicates the verification of casualty figures.
Despite these considerations, the reports from reputable sources like the Associated Press and Dunya News, which are generally regarded as reliable, support the claim's accuracy. The figures are consistent across multiple reports, indicating a high level of agreement on the number of casualties resulting from the air strikes.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that nearly 80 civilians were killed and more than 300 were wounded in the Israeli air strikes on October 20, 2023, is substantiated by multiple credible sources, including statements from Iranian officials and corroborating reports from various media outlets. While potential biases exist, the consistency of the reported figures across different platforms supports the validity of the claim.
Sources
- Iran hits Israel with a second wave of missiles | AP News
- US-Iran nuclear talks cancelled as Israel strikes Tehran's natural gas ...
- Iranian media says Israeli strike on Tehran killed 60, including ...
- Israel strikes kill top Iran military leaders, hit nuclear sites | Channel News Asia
- Iran fires missiles at Israel, kills 7, after attacks on oil sites | Al Jazeera
- Live updates: Waves of airstrikes in Israel and Iran as exchange of ... | NBC News
- Iran hits Israel with air strikes after nuclear site attacks | Al Jazeera
- Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least 20 as war rages on | WDSU