Israeli airstrikes kill over 580 in Iran, including civilians: rights group reports

Pakistan, June 18 -- Israeli airstrikes on Iran have killed at least 585 people, according to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists group. The strikes have also left 1,326 people injured, including civilians and security personnel. The group stated that 239 of the dead were civilians, while 126 were identified as members of Iran's security forces.

The human rights group, known for documenting casualties during the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests, said it confirmed the figures by crosschecking local reports with sources inside Iran. Meanwhile, Iran has not released consistent death tolls since the conflict began and has previously downplayed the number of casualties. Its most recent update, issued Monday, reported 224 deaths and over 1,200 injuries.

As Israeli strikes entered their sixth consecutive day, chaos spread across Tehran. Thousands of residents fled their homes in fear, as loud explosions rocked the capital. Israel claims its campaign is necessary to stop Iran from advancing toward nuclear weapon capabilities, citing national security concerns.

These attacks come during sensitive talks between Iran and the United States over a potential new nuclear agreement. However, former President Donald Trump stated that Israel acted only after a 60-day window he gave for diplomacy expired. The timing has sparked further geopolitical uncertainty in an already volatile region.

Iran maintains its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Still, it remains the only non-nuclear-armed country to enrich uranium to 60%-just a step below weapons-grade levels. Although UN inspectors from the International Atomic Energy are still present in Iran, their access remains limited. U.S. intelligence also believes Iran is not currently building a nuclear bomb.

The ongoing violence and conflicting reports have made it difficult to assess the full scale of destruction. However, international concern is growing rapidly as civilian casualties continue to mount. More updates are expected as the situation unfolds.