A wave of Israeli airstrikes struck Iran early Wednesday, killing at least 585 people and injuring over 1,300, according to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists (HRA) organization. The group, known for documenting human rights violations during Iran’s 2022 protests, cited its network of verified sources inside the country, reports AP.
Of the reported deaths, 239 were civilians and 126 were members of Iranian security forces, HRA said. The organization cross-checked local reports with internal monitoring to produce its figures.
Iran’s government has issued few official updates since the beginning of the conflict and continues to downplay the scale of damage. Its most recent report, released Monday, acknowledged 224 fatalities and 1,277 wounded.
The Israeli offensive—now in its sixth day—has primarily targeted Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure, escalating tensions across the region. The strikes have triggered panic in Tehran, where large numbers of residents fled the city amid fears of further attacks.
A powerful blast was heard around 5 a.m. local time, following earlier strikes in the predawn hours. One missile reportedly hit Hakimiyeh, an eastern Tehran neighborhood that houses a military academy run by the Revolutionary Guard.
In central Tehran, the historic Grand Bazaar shuttered for the day—an event typically reserved for moments of national crisis. Roads heading west out of the capital became gridlocked, with cars crawling in bumper-to-bumper traffic as families tried to escape the worsening violence.
The U.S. has increased its military presence in the region, dispatching additional warplanes to the Middle East. However, former President Donald Trump—whose administration remains heavily involved in conflict oversight—sparked confusion with a series of aggressive social media posts.
In one, he demanded Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER”, and claimed that U.S. intelligence knows the whereabouts of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, though he added that the U.S. had “no plans to kill him—at least not for now.”
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday to discuss the evolving situation.
Iran’s military leadership responded with a stern warning. In a video message, Gen. Abdul Rahim Mousavi, commander of Iran’s army, declared, “The operations carried out so far have been solely for the purpose of warning and deterrence. The punishment operation will be carried out soon.”
Iran launched another missile barrage early Wednesday, though Israeli officials said most were intercepted and that no injuries had been reported. Sirens were heard across southern Israel, including near Dimona, the site of Israel’s undeclared nuclear weapons facility.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem will remain closed through Friday, the State Department announced, citing security concerns.
Iran’s missile response has diminished in intensity. On Wednesday, only a handful of missiles were fired—a significant drop from earlier in the week. Analysts suggest this may be due to Israeli strikes disabling several Iranian launch systems.
Since its retaliation campaign began, Iran has launched roughly 400 missiles and hundreds of drones toward Israel. To date, 24 people have been killed in Israel as a result of the attacks.
Israel, for its part, maintains that its military campaign is aimed at preventing Iran from advancing its nuclear ambitions. While Tehran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, it continues to enrich uranium to 60% purity—just a short step from weapons-grade levels.
Although the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) maintains some monitoring capabilities in Iran, U.S. intelligence agencies have publicly stated that Iran is not currently attempting to build a nuclear weapon.
With both sides escalating, and diplomacy faltering, the Middle East faces the gravest threat of regional war in years.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
