Death toll from Israeli strikes in Iran reaches 639, rights group says
A US-based rights organisation says Israeli strikes on Iran have left at least 639 people dead as the conflict enters its seventh day.
Human Rights Activists, headquartered in Washington, reported the figures on Wednesday, citing its sources inside Iran.
The group, known for tracking casualties during Iran's 2022 protests over Mahsa Amini's death, said the toll includes 263 civilians and 154 members of the security forces.
It said the numbers were compiled using local Iranian news outlets and verified through a network of informants within the country.
Iranian authorities have not provided consistent updates on casualties since Israel began its strikes.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
Iranian press review: Conservatives demand war until destruction of Israel
Kayhan daily calls for war until Israel destroyed As Israel's attacks on military and civilian targets in Iran escalate, the conservative Kayhan daily has called for the war to continue until Israel is completely destroyed. Kayhan is closely tied to Iran's supreme leader, and its editor-in-chief, Hossein Shariatmadari, was directly appointed by him. On Tuesday, the daily published a front-page editorial with the headline: 'The condition for ending the war is the destruction of Israel, not the halt of attacks'. Kayhan published the article after Iran's foreign ministry said that Iran would stop firing missiles if Israel ended its attacks. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Kayhan wrote: 'Now is not the time for retreat or meaningless diplomacy. This is the golden moment. The condition for ending the war is not a ceasefire, nor is it political pressure, nor is it a shift in position. The only condition is the complete destruction of Israel.' Shariatmadari is also a strong and regular advocate for closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The strait, located between Oman and Iran, is considered the world's most important gateway for oil shipping. Pahlavi's support for Israel sparks anger The BBC's interview with Reza Pahlavi, the son of the ousted shah of Iran, has sparked widespread criticism after he expressed support for Israel's bombing of Iranian cities. Pahlavi, who has long supported Israel and met several times with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also visited the Western Wall in 2023 and took part in Jewish religious ceremonies. Trump promised not to go to war. His most ardent supporters want him to keep his word Read More » In the BBC interview, he voiced strong support for Israel's attacks and claimed that harming civilians was not Israel's goal. He said, 'Clearly, I do not think it was the intention of the Israeli government to attack Iranian civilians.' Arash Azizi, an Iranian writer based in the United States, commented on the BBC presenter's reaction to Pahlavi's remarks. 'Did you see the BBC presenter?' he wrote on X. 'She looks shocked and in disbelief. It's like she's feeling vicarious embarrassment when she asks Pahlavi, 'Are you actually saying that the Israel bombing your country, civilians in Iran are being killed, is a positive thing?' She can't believe it.' Other Persian social media users also strongly criticised Pahlavi. Some compared his photo with Netanyahu to a photo of Massoud Rajavi and Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war, suggesting Pahlavi's actions were similar to those of Rajavi. Rajavi was the leader of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran. During the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, he moved his forces to Iraq and fought alongside Saddam Hussein against Iran. Granaz Mousavi, an Iranian poet who has faced court summons and travel restrictions imposed by Iranian authorities, posted both photos on Facebook with the caption: 'Don't sell out your homeland.' Criticism mounts over intelligence failure Since the start of Israel's attacks on Iran, state-run media have reported multiple arrests of individuals allegedly linked to Israeli intelligence. These reports claim the suspects were helping coordinate strikes from inside Iran. Although these announcements were presented as achievements by Iranian security agencies, some outlets, such as the Sharq daily, criticised the intelligence services for failing to prevent Israeli infiltration. Israeli attacks reawaken Gulf war trauma as Iranians attempt to flee Tehran Read More » On Monday, the state-run IRNA news agency reported the discovery of a house in Fashafouyeh containing 200 kilograms of explosives. Meanwhile, Hamshahri reported that a drone production workshop had been found in Isfahan, along with the arrest of four people accused of collaborating with the Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency. The claims have not been confirmed by independent sources. The Sharq daily argued that these developments, along with the killing of several commanders from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), show that Israel's intelligence network has been operating inside Iran for years without being stopped. Sharq wrote: 'The recent attack by the Zionist regime on Iranian soil was not based on military strength, but rather on years of intelligence planning, building networks, and using agents inside the country. 'Previous security officials had warned about this many times, and even some senior figures raised alarms, but instead of listening, the authorities pushed them aside.' Authorities tighten grip on free expression Iranian authorities have tightened restrictions on media and free expression amid Israel's ongoing offensive. Since Friday, several Iranians - including civil society activists - have been arrested for commenting on the conflict. Israel and US exhausting supplies of ballistic missile interceptors, source says Read More » Domestic media have also reported the return of Basij forces to the streets and the re-establishment of checkpoints, measures widely seen during the Iran-Iraq war. This week, Ali Pakzad, a reporter for Sharq daily, and Saeed Majidi, a photojournalist working with international outlets, were detained for two days because of their reporting activities. Both were released on Wednesday after questioning. The crackdown has not been limited to journalists. Social media users have also been targeted. On Sunday, Tasnim news agency reported that 15 people were arrested in Mazandaran province for their posts on Persian-language platforms. In addition, local media reported that student activist Motaharah Gonoy and well-known sociologist Mostafa Mehrayin were also recently detained. *Iranian press review is a digest of news reports not independently verified as accurate by Middle East Eye.
Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Iranian missiles rain down on Tel Aviv after Israel attacks Arak nuclear reactor
Iranian ballistic missile struck several areas of Israel on Thursday, with extensive damage reported at the Israeli stock exchange building in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, as well as a major hospital in the south of the country. Images seen by Middle East Eye showed shattered glass and debris strewn onto the streets outside the stock exchange, the heart of the country's economy, with damage also reported at several nearby offices and residential buildings. Meanwhile, unverified footage posted on social media showed people running through corridors of the Soroko hospital in Beer Sheva as doctors stood outside the wrecked building. "BREAKING: A direct hit has been reported at Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva, southern Israel. More details to follow," the foreign ministry said in a post on X. A spokesperson for the hospital reported "damage to the hospital and extensive damage in various areas." New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters "We are currently assessing the damage, including injuries. We ask the public not to come to the hospital at this time," they said. Iran denied claims that it directly attacked the hospital, saying it launched a "precise and direct" on a nearby Israeli military target. "The target of attack was the large [Israeli army] Command and Intelligence headquarters and the military intelligence camp in the Gav-Yam Technology Park," the Iranian state news agency IRNA reported. Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to make Iran's leadership "pay a heavy price." The strikes across Israel came hours after Israel's latest attack on Iran's sprawling nuclear programme, striking Iran's Arak heavy water reactor. Iranian state television reported that there was "no radiation danger whatsoever" and that the facility had been evacuated before the attack. Since Friday, when Israel launched its assault on Iran, Israel has repeated targeted the country's military and nuclear facilities, as well as assassinated high-profile security, intelligence and military commanders as well as scientists. The attacks, which have also targeted residential areas, have killed more 500 people and wounded at least 1,300, many of them civilians. In response, Iran has fired barrages of missiles towards Haifa, Tel Aviv and other major Israeli cities, killing dozens. Hundreds of missiles have been launched since Friday, and whilst Israel's air defence systems are robust, they have been unable to stop all of them. Israel's military censor, as a matter of policy, has barred local and international media outlets from publishing the details of the exact locations targeted. Earlier this week, the Israeli army said in a statement that the country's air defences were not fully secure against missile attacks. Meanwhile, a senior US official familiar told MEE that Israel, along with the US, were exhausting supplies of ballistic missile interceptors, just days into the hostilities with Iran. US President Donald Trump, who initially distanced himself from the conflict, has increased US military presence in the region and is weighing up ordering attacks on Iran. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, warned on Wednesday that the US would face "irreparable damage" if it shifted from supporting Israel's defence to an active role in attacking the Islamic Republic.
Gulf Today
3 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Ayatollah Khamenei says Iran will 'never surrender,' warns off US
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday the nation would never surrender as demanded by President Donald Trump and warned the United States it would face "irreparable damage" if it intervenes. "This nation will never surrender to imposition from anyone," Khamenei said in a speech read on state television. "America should know that any military intervention will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage." In his first remarks since Friday, when he delivered a speech broadcast on state media after Israel began bombarding Iran, Khamenei said peace or war could not be imposed on the Islamic Republic. "Intelligent people who know Iran, the Iranian nation, and its history will never speak to this nation in threatening language because the Iranian nation will not surrender," he said. Thousands of people were fleeing Tehran on Wednesday after Israeli warplanes bombed the city overnight, and a source said Trump was considering options that include joining Israel in attacking Iranian nuclear sites. Israel's military said 50 Israeli jets had struck around 20 targets in Tehran overnight, including sites producing raw materials, components and manufacturing systems for missiles. A source familiar with internal discussions said Trump and his team were considering a number of options, which included joining Israel in strikes against Iranian nuclear sites. Iran had conveyed to Washington that it would retaliate against the United States for any direct participation, its ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, said. He said he already saw the US as "complicit in what Israel is doing". Agencies
