865 Dead, Over 3,300 Injured In Israeli Airstrikes On Iran, Says Rights Group

Israeli airstrikes across Iran have resulted in at least 865 deaths and 3,396 injuries, according to a U.S.-based human rights group. The report comes amid heightened regional tensions following a wave of Israeli and American military actions targeting Iranian infrastructure, including nuclear sites.

According to AP The Washington-based Human Rights Activists organization released the casualty figures on Sunday. The group, which monitors developments inside Iran using a network of local sources, stated that among the dead are 363 civilians and 215 members of Iran's security forces. The data reflects incidents across the entire country.

This group, known for its detailed reporting during the 2022 protests over Mahsa Amini's death, cross-verifies Iranian local reports against independent sources due to Iran's history of downplaying or withholding official casualty numbers. Iran has not provided frequent official death tolls since the conflict escalated. However, on Saturday, Iran's Health Ministry acknowledged 400 deaths and 3,056 injuries due to the Israeli strikes.

In response to the growing instability, Israel's Airport Authority announced on Sunday the closure of its airspace to both incoming and outgoing flights. The authority cited "recent developments" as the reason for the shutdown but did not specify the duration of the closure.

The United States also entered the fray early Sunday with targeted airstrikes on three of Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities-Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan-marking a significant escalation in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. The U.S. move aims to dismantle Iran's nuclear capabilities, despite concerns it may trigger a broader regional war.

Following the U.S. strikes, Iranian officials confirmed that there were no signs of radioactive contamination at any of the targeted sites. State media cited a statement from the country's National Nuclear Safety System Centre, which reported that radiation detectors found no abnormal releases at the facilities.

"There is no danger to the residents living around the aforementioned sites," the official statement said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also confirmed that previous Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities had not caused any detectable radiation leaks into the surrounding areas.

The casualty figures, the closure of Israeli airspace, and the U.S. military involvement mark a sharp escalation in the conflict, with fears mounting over the possibility of further regional destabilization.