Iran’s Health Minister: Israeli Airstrikes Kill Nearly 700 Civilians in Less Than Two Weeks

Iran’s Minister of Health and Medical Education Mohammad Reza Zafarghandi has said that nearly 700 civilians were killed in 12 consecutive days of Israeli airstrikes on Iran.

Zafarghandi also confirmed that 18 medical workers, including six doctors, were among the casualties, The Caspian Post reports via local media.

He stated that seven hospitals were targeted by Israeli forces, leading to emergency evacuations at several facilities. In addition, 11 ambulances were reportedly destroyed during the bombardments.

The conflict began on June 13, when Israeli warplanes launched a wave of airstrikes on military and strategic targets in Iran. The initial attacks killed a number of senior Iranian officials, including:

Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces

Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

Gholam-Ali Rashid and Ali Shadmani, commanders from the Khatam al-Anbiya central command

Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the IRGC Aerospace Force

Nine nuclear scientists and other high-ranking personnel

In response, Iran launched a large-scale counterstrike, firing more than 150 ballistic missiles and over 100 drones at Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities, resulting in civilian casualties and widespread infrastructure damage.

The situation escalated further on June 22, when the US conducted airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

On June 23, Iran retaliated with airstrikes on a US military base in Qatar.

A temporary ceasefire was declared on June 24, mediated by President Trump. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council subsequently issued a statement confirming the suspension of hostilities, offering a brief pause in a rapidly escalating conflict that has already claimed hundreds of lives.