Fact Check: Nearly 80 civilians were killed in attacks that targeted nuclear scientists in their beds and wounded more than 300 people.

Fact Check: "Nearly 80 civilians were killed in attacks that targeted nuclear scientists in their beds and wounded more than 300 people."

What We Know

Recent reports indicate that Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear targets resulted in significant casualties. According to Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, at least 78 people were killed and over 300 were injured in these strikes (CNN, Fox23). Iranian state media also reported that "nearly 80 civilians were killed in attacks that targeted nuclear scientists" (KSL, Dawn). The strikes reportedly targeted senior military leaders and nuclear scientists, including Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi (Washington Post).

Analysis

The claim that "nearly 80 civilians were killed" is supported by multiple sources, including official statements from Iranian officials and reports from various news outlets. The consistency across these reports lends credibility to the casualty figures. However, the term "civilians" is somewhat ambiguous, as it is unclear whether all reported casualties were non-combatants or included military personnel.

The sources reporting these figures include both Iranian state media and international news outlets, which may carry inherent biases. Iranian state media may exaggerate figures to portray a narrative of victimization, while international outlets may rely on Iranian sources for information. For instance, the Washington Post and CNN provide corroborative accounts of the attacks and their aftermath, but they also rely on statements from Iranian officials, which could be biased.

The claim that more than 300 people were wounded is similarly substantiated by reports from multiple outlets, including NBC News and Fox23. However, the exact nature of the injuries and the context of the attacks (whether they were indeed targeting civilians or military personnel) remains less clear.

Conclusion

The claim that "nearly 80 civilians were killed in attacks that targeted nuclear scientists in their beds and wounded more than 300 people" is Partially True. While the casualty figures are supported by multiple sources, the ambiguity surrounding the definition of "civilians" and the potential bias in reporting necessitate a cautious interpretation of the claim. The context of the attacks, including the involvement of military personnel, complicates the narrative of civilian casualties.

Sources

1. What we know about Iranian commanders, scientists killed ...
2. More explosions in Tel Aviv and Tehran as Israel-Iran ...
3. Iran fires missiles at Israel in response to attacks
4. Israel strikes Iran's nuclear sites and kills top generals.
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6. Israel launches biggest ever attack on Iran
7. The Latest: Israel attacks nuclear program in Iran, drawing ...
8. Live updates: Iran launches retaliatory missiles into Israel ...