Fact Check: "More than 220 people, many of them women and children, have been killed in Iran since the Israeli attack on October 6, 2023, according to Iranian authorities."
What We Know
The claim states that over 220 individuals, primarily women and children, have been killed in Iran since the Israeli attacks commenced on October 6, 2023. According to reports from Iranian authorities, particularly the Iranian ambassador to the U.N., the Israeli strikes resulted in the deaths of 78 people and injuries to over 320, with the ambassador emphasizing that "the overwhelming majority" of victims were civilians, including women and children (AP News).
In the context of the ongoing conflict, the Iranian government has reported civilian casualties, but specific numbers have varied. The Wikipedia article on the June 2025 Israeli strikes notes that civilians were among the casualties, but does not corroborate the figure of 220 deaths.
Analysis
The claim of "more than 220 people" killed lacks verification from multiple reliable sources. The Iranian ambassador's statement, while highlighting civilian casualties, specifically mentions 78 fatalities due to Israeli attacks, which is significantly lower than the claim being fact-checked. Furthermore, the reports from various news outlets, including Al Jazeera and The Washington Post, do not provide evidence to support the figure of 220 deaths attributed to the Israeli strikes.
The sources reporting on the conflict, including the AP and Wikipedia, indicate that while there have been civilian casualties, the numbers reported do not align with the claim. The Iranian government often provides casualty figures that may be politically motivated, which raises questions about the reliability of the data being presented.
Additionally, the context of the conflict, including the ongoing military actions and the chaotic nature of reporting from war zones, complicates the verification of casualty figures. The lack of independent verification from neutral sources further undermines the credibility of the claim.
Conclusion
The claim that "more than 220 people, many of them women and children, have been killed in Iran since the Israeli attack on October 6, 2023" is False. The available evidence indicates that the number of confirmed deaths reported by Iranian authorities is significantly lower, with the most cited figure being 78. The discrepancy in numbers and the lack of corroborating evidence from independent sources suggest that the claim is exaggerated or unsubstantiated.
Sources
- Iran hits Israel with a second wave of missiles | AP News
- June 2025 Israeli strikes on Iran - Wikipedia
- October 7 attacks - Wikipedia
- Iranian missiles target Israel in retaliation for earlier strikes | The Washington Post
- Israel-Iran live news: IRGC intelligence chief, two generals killed | Al Jazeera
