Fact Check: "The Israeli airstrikes in Tehran were carried out with the backing of the United States and have resulted in numerous civilian casualties."
What We Know
Recent reports indicate that Israel has conducted airstrikes targeting military and nuclear facilities in Tehran, Iran. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that these strikes were aimed at "storage and missile launch infrastructure sites" as part of ongoing military operations against Iran, which Israel perceives as a significant threat due to its nuclear ambitions (BBC). The strikes have reportedly resulted in civilian casualties, with Iranian health officials stating that at least 128 people have died, including six top Iranian security officials (New York Times).
However, it is crucial to note that President Donald Trump explicitly stated that the United States had "nothing to do with the attack on Iran" (BBC). This assertion contradicts the claim that the airstrikes were carried out with U.S. backing.
Analysis
The claim that the Israeli airstrikes in Tehran were conducted with U.S. support lacks credible evidence. President Trump's statement directly refutes any notion of U.S. involvement, suggesting that the operations were unilateral actions taken by Israel in response to Iranian missile attacks on Israeli territory (BBC).
While the airstrikes have indeed resulted in civilian casualties, the assertion that they were conducted with U.S. backing is misleading. The IDF's operations have been characterized as part of a broader conflict between the two nations, which has escalated recently but does not imply direct U.S. involvement in these specific military actions (New York Times).
Furthermore, the sources reporting on the airstrikes, such as the BBC and New York Times, are reputable and provide detailed accounts of the events, including casualty figures and the nature of the targets. However, the reliability of claims regarding U.S. involvement is diminished by the clear denial from U.S. officials, which should be considered a critical factor in assessing the validity of the claim.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that Israeli airstrikes in Tehran were carried out with the backing of the United States is false. President Trump has explicitly denied U.S. involvement in these attacks. While the airstrikes have resulted in numerous civilian casualties, the assertion of U.S. support is not substantiated by credible evidence.
Sources
- Iran missiles cause multiple casualties after strikes in Israel
- Live Updates: Israel Launches New Strikes on Tehran
- Multiple explosions rock Iran's capital: NPR
- Iranian missiles target Israel in retaliation for earlier strikes
- Israel strikes Iran's nuclear sites and kills top generals
- June 2025 Israeli strikes on Iran
- Death toll from 3 days of Israeli strikes on Iran has now topped 400
- Live updates: Israeli airstrikes rock Tehran; Trump rejected