Tehran/Jerusalem /Washington, June 19: Israeli airstrikes on Iran have killed at least 585 people and wounded over 1,300 others, a human rights group said on Wednesday, as the conflict escalates and panic grips Tehran, prompting civilians to flee amid fears of further attacks.
According to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists group, among the dead are 239 civilians and 126 security personnel. The group, which previously tracked casualties during Iran’s 2022 protests, cross-referenced reports through a network of domestic sources. Iran’s government, which has not released updated casualty figures since Monday, had put the death toll at 224.
A large explosion rocked Tehran early Wednesday, following a series of overnight blasts. One Israeli strike appeared to target the Hakimiyeh neighborhood, where the elite Revolutionary Guard operates a training academy. Shops across downtown Tehran were shuttered, including the historic Grand Bazaar, and traffic jammed outbound roads as residents attempted to flee the city.
Israel has yet to comment officially on the latest strikes. However, its military continued to urge Israeli citizens to stay close to shelters, saying Iran launched another barrage of missiles on Wednesday morning. Sirens were reported in southern Israel, including in Dimona, home to the country’s undeclared nuclear weapons program. Israeli officials said most missiles were intercepted, and no new casualties were immediately reported.
Iran has launched approximately 400 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel since Friday. At least 24 people have been killed in Israel. Tehran has not explained the recent decline in missile launches, though analysts attribute it to Israeli strikes disabling Iranian launch platforms.
Iran’s military has pledged further retaliation. “The operations carried out so far have been solely for the purpose of warning and deterrence,” said Gen. Abdul Rahim Mousavi, chief of Iran’s army. “The punishment operation will be carried out soon.”
The conflict unfolds as tensions rise over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Israel claims its campaign aims to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. While Tehran insists its program is peaceful, it has enriched uranium to 60%—a short step from weapons-grade levels. The International Atomic Energy Agency maintains limited access to Iranian facilities, and U.S. intelligence agencies have said they do not believe Iran is actively building a bomb.
President Donald Trump, who returned to office in January, added to the tension by calling for Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” in a social media post. He warned Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that the U.S. knew his location but had no plans to kill him “at least not for now.” Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone on Tuesday, according to a White House official who declined to be named.
The U.S. has increased its military presence in the region, deploying additional warplanes and refueling tankers. The U.S. State Department announced that the embassy in Jerusalem would remain closed through Friday due to the unfolding conflict.
