Fact Check: Israel attacked Iran’s capital early Friday in strikes that targeted the country’s nuclear program and killed at least two top military officers.

Fact Check: "Israel attacked Iran’s capital early Friday in strikes that targeted the country’s nuclear program and killed at least two top military officers."

What We Know

On June 12-13, 2025, Israel conducted a significant military operation targeting Iranian nuclear sites and military officials. Reports indicate that the strikes resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian military officers, including at least three top commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) (source-1, source-3). The Iranian ambassador to the U.N. reported that 78 people were killed and over 320 injured, with the majority of casualties being civilians (source-1).

The Israeli military characterized these attacks as preemptive strikes aimed at thwarting Iran's advancing nuclear capabilities, which have been a point of contention between the two nations for years (source-5). Following the Israeli strikes, Iran retaliated with missile attacks targeting Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, resulting in injuries to at least 34 individuals (source-1, source-8).

Analysis

The claim that "Israel attacked Iran’s capital early Friday in strikes that targeted the country’s nuclear program and killed at least two top military officers" is partially true.

Targeting of Nuclear Program: Multiple sources confirm that the Israeli strikes were aimed at Iran's nuclear facilities, which aligns with the claim (source-5, source-6).
Casualties Among Military Officers: The assertion about the deaths of military officers is supported by reports indicating that several high-ranking IRGC officials were killed during the attacks (source-3). However, the claim specifies "at least two" officers, while reports indicate at least three were confirmed dead, which could suggest a discrepancy in the claim's specificity.
Civilian Casualties: The Iranian ambassador's statement highlights that the majority of casualties were civilians, which is a critical aspect that the claim does not address (source-1). This context is essential for understanding the broader implications of the strikes.
Source Reliability: The sources used in this analysis vary in reliability. The Associated Press and The New York Times are generally considered credible news organizations with rigorous fact-checking standards. However, the Iranian government's statements should be viewed with caution due to potential bias, as they may seek to portray the situation in a way that garners sympathy and support (source-1, source-4).

Conclusion

The claim that "Israel attacked Iran’s capital early Friday in strikes that targeted the country’s nuclear program and killed at least two top military officers" is partially true. While the core elements of the claim regarding the attack on Iran's nuclear program and the deaths of military officers are substantiated, the specifics regarding the number of officers killed and the significant civilian casualties are critical omissions that affect the overall accuracy of the statement.

Fact Check: Israel attacked Iran’s capital early Friday in strikes that targeted the country’s nuclear program and killed at least two top military officers.