Fact Check: Israel has killed about 15 Iranian nuclear scientists in recent years.

Fact Check: "Israel has killed about 15 Iranian nuclear scientists in recent years."

What We Know

The claim that Israel has killed about 15 Iranian nuclear scientists in recent years is based on various reports regarding targeted assassinations of individuals involved in Iran's nuclear program. According to a report by AP News, Israel has been implicated in the deaths of at least 14 Iranian scientists, particularly highlighting the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in 2020, which Iran attributed to Israeli operatives. This incident marked a significant escalation in Israel's covert operations against Iranian nuclear advancements.

Further corroboration comes from NPR, which noted that the Israeli military acknowledged the deaths of several scientists who were key to Iran's nuclear program, describing these actions as a "significant blow" to Iran's capabilities. Additionally, The New York Times reported on the deaths of three more nuclear scientists in a recent Israeli strike, indicating that the total number of scientists killed may indeed approach or exceed 15.

Analysis

While the claim appears to have some basis in reported events, the exact number of 15 is somewhat ambiguous. The reports from various sources indicate that Israel has conducted multiple operations targeting Iranian nuclear scientists, but the precise tally can vary based on the definition of "nuclear scientists" and the timeframe considered.

The reliability of the sources is mixed. For instance, AP News and NPR are established news organizations with a history of rigorous reporting, which lends credibility to their accounts of the assassinations. However, the nature of the operations—often shrouded in secrecy—means that exact figures can be difficult to verify. Additionally, reports from sources like BBC and TRT provide context about the broader implications of these actions but may also reflect a narrative that could be influenced by geopolitical biases.

Moreover, the claim lacks a definitive source that explicitly states "15" as the number of scientists killed, suggesting that while there is evidence of multiple assassinations, the specific figure may be an estimate rather than a confirmed statistic.

Conclusion

Needs Research. The claim that Israel has killed about 15 Iranian nuclear scientists is supported by reports of multiple assassinations, but the exact number is not definitively established in the sources reviewed. The complexity of covert operations and the lack of official acknowledgment from Israel complicate the verification of such claims. Further investigation into more recent reports and data would be necessary to provide a clearer picture.

Fact Check: Israel has killed about 15 Iranian nuclear scientists in recent years.