Fact Check: Two regional sources said at least 20 Iranian military commanders were killed.

Fact Check: Two regional sources said at least 20 Iranian military commanders were killed.

Published June 13, 2025
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VERDICT
Partially True

# Fact Check: "Two regional sources said at least 20 Iranian military commanders were killed." ## What We Know Recent reports indicate that Israeli a...

Fact Check: "Two regional sources said at least 20 Iranian military commanders were killed."

What We Know

Recent reports indicate that Israeli airstrikes on Iran resulted in significant casualties among Iranian military leadership. According to Reuters, at least 20 senior Iranian commanders were killed during these strikes, which were part of an operation targeting Iran's military and nuclear capabilities. Notably, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, and other high-ranking officials, including Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC's Aerospace Force, were among those reported dead. The BBC corroborates these claims, detailing the identities of several commanders killed in the strikes.

Additionally, the Washington Post and The Hill reported that the Israeli attacks were a preemptive measure against Iran's nuclear program, leading to the deaths of multiple senior military figures and nuclear scientists. The Iranian state media also confirmed the deaths of several commanders, although the exact number reported varies across sources.

Analysis

The claim that "at least 20 Iranian military commanders were killed" is supported by multiple credible sources, including major news outlets like Reuters and the BBC. These sources have provided consistent information regarding the scale of the casualties and the identities of some of the high-ranking officials who were killed.

However, it is important to note that while the reports from regional sources suggest a high number of casualties, the exact count can vary. For instance, some reports indicate that only three senior commanders and two nuclear scientists were confirmed dead, as mentioned in the Washington Post. This discrepancy raises questions about the reliability of the claims regarding the total number of casualties.

The sources reporting on this event are generally reputable, but they may have differing access to information and varying degrees of bias based on their regional affiliations. For example, Iranian state media may emphasize the scale of the losses to portray the situation as a significant blow to their military, while Western media may focus on the implications of these strikes for regional security.

Conclusion

The claim that "two regional sources said at least 20 Iranian military commanders were killed" is Partially True. While there is substantial evidence that a significant number of Iranian military leaders were killed in the Israeli strikes, the exact number remains uncertain and varies among sources. The reports from credible outlets support the assertion of high casualties, but the specific figure of 20 should be viewed with caution due to the potential for exaggeration or miscommunication in the immediate aftermath of such events.

Sources

  1. At least 20 senior Iranian commanders killed in Israeli attack on Iran
  2. Who were the Iranian commanders killed in Israel's attack?
  3. Live updates: Iran launches missiles in retaliation for Israeli ...
  4. Who are the officials killed in the Israeli attack on Iran?
  5. Israel strikes Iran's nuclear and military sites, and kills its top ...
  6. Live updates: Iran launches attack on Israel after airstrikes kill ...
  7. Who are the Iranian military chiefs and scientists killed by Israel
  8. Israel eliminates at least 20 top Iranian military leaders in unprecedented overnight strikes

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Fact Check: Built on ancient Native American mounds near the meeting point of where the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers clash, the town sits at a natural crossroads. During the Civil War, that geography turned it into a vital Union stronghold. Mound City became home to one of the largest military hospitals in the West and served as a major naval station. Soldiers from both sides passed through some to recover, many not. It may be quiet now, but this place once pulsed with the urgency of life and death and sat at the crossroad of a nation at war with itself. That history lingers most clearly at the Mound City National Cemetery, just beyond the edge of town. I wasn’t expecting to find it, and I certainly wasn’t expecting the names etched into some of the stones. Two men in particular stood out, John Basil Turchin and Alexander Bielaski. Both born in the Russian Empire. Both connected to Abraham Lincoln. Both now buried here, far from where they began. John Basil Turchin (born Ivan Turchaninov) had once been a colonel in the Russian Imperial Army. He fought in the Crimean War before immigrating to the United States in 1856. When the Civil War broke out, he offered his experience to the Union cause with fierce conviction. His military background and abolitionist ideals caught Lincoln’s attention, and he was appointed a brigadier general, becoming the only Russian born general to serve in the Union Army. He died in 1901 and was laid to rest here, among the soldiers he once led, and some that he fought against.

Detailed fact-check analysis of: Built on ancient Native American mounds near the meeting point of where the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers clash, the town sits at a natural crossroads. During the Civil War, that geography turned it into a vital Union stronghold. Mound City became home to one of the largest military hospitals in the West and served as a major naval station. Soldiers from both sides passed through some to recover, many not. It may be quiet now, but this place once pulsed with the urgency of life and death and sat at the crossroad of a nation at war with itself. That history lingers most clearly at the Mound City National Cemetery, just beyond the edge of town. I wasn’t expecting to find it, and I certainly wasn’t expecting the names etched into some of the stones. Two men in particular stood out, John Basil Turchin and Alexander Bielaski. Both born in the Russian Empire. Both connected to Abraham Lincoln. Both now buried here, far from where they began. John Basil Turchin (born Ivan Turchaninov) had once been a colonel in the Russian Imperial Army. He fought in the Crimean War before immigrating to the United States in 1856. When the Civil War broke out, he offered his experience to the Union cause with fierce conviction. His military background and abolitionist ideals caught Lincoln’s attention, and he was appointed a brigadier general, becoming the only Russian born general to serve in the Union Army. He died in 1901 and was laid to rest here, among the soldiers he once led, and some that he fought against.

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Fact Check: Two regional sources said at least 20 Iranian military commanders were killed. | TruthOrFake Blog