{"id":22,"date":"2025-09-17T19:08:52","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T19:08:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/d-mag.ir\/en\/?p=22"},"modified":"2025-10-13T14:19:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T14:19:17","slug":"fire-at-home-tracing-the-12-day-israeli-war-on-iran-through-the-death-toll","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d-mag.net\/?p=22","title":{"rendered":"Home Ablaze: Tracing the 12-Day Israeli War on Iran Through Death Toll Data"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At dawn on June 12, 2025, war ceased to be a distant event belonging to others and became an immediate, inescapable reality for many of us. Some awoke to the sound of explosions shattering their lives; others hastily packed their lives into a suitcase and fled to the homes of relatives or friends, unsure when they might return. Some watched their houses collapse into rubble; some lost loved ones beneath the ruins or on distant battlefields; and some were themselves wounded, their fragile lives unable to withstand the force of the blast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first, many assumed it was merely another terrorist attack\u2014one of those targeted operations Israel had carried out on Iranian soil before, sudden explosions that had sadly become far from unprecedented in recent years. But what unfolded at dawn on June 12, 2025, marked the beginning of a complex and grueling war\u2014one that, in several ways, echoed the longest conventional conflict of the past century, the Iran\u2013Iraq War. According to Iran\u2019s later-released official statistics, the 12-day conflict claimed the lives of at least 1,062 of our compatriots.[1]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

This article, drawing on information published by various news agencies, focuses on the shifts in casualty figures throughout the war, revisiting and analyzing the events of those twelve days. Examining the progression of the conflict through this data not only provides a clearer picture of what transpired but also raises critical questions for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Collecting data on the death toll of the 12-day war from news reports<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Gathering data on human casualties during and after a war is never an easy task. In the midst of a crisis\u2014and often for a long time afterward\u2014comprehensive and detailed statistics on the fallen are rarely made available in an official or accurate form. Following the end of the recent 12-day war, official bodies in Iran, including the Ministry of Health and Medical Education[2] and the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs[3], released only general figures on the number of the civilian casualties. However, the detailed data behind these figures have yet to be published in an integrated or accessible format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In such circumstances, the only option is to conduct a thorough and systematic review of news reports to compile information about Iran\u2019s victims of the conflict. Most published news regarding those killed in the war has focused on their funeral and burial ceremonies. Therefore, linking the reports on every fatality to specific Israeli attacks required examining the details of each news item with great care[4].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The data collection process began on June 24, 2025, by reviewing a wide range of information published in news agencies and on social media platforms, and it continued until the final weeks of September. This article is based on those collected data, which have been compiled into a dataset now available through the following link for use by other researchers and journalists:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n


Casualties of the Israel-Iran wa<\/strong>r<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Based on the complied data from news agencies, 1,088 people lost their lives to Israel\u2019s attacks on Iran between June 12 and June 24, 2025. Among the victims, 54% (at least 560 people) were military personnel from Army, IRGC, and Basij, while 46% were non-military. The latter included law enforcement officers (Police\/FARAJA) who comprised 15% (at least 153 people), and ordinary civilians, who accounted for 31% (at least 327 people).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
A total of 1,088 people were killed in Israel\u2019s attacks on Iran in June 2025 (at least 3 more died in clearance operations after the ceasefire, not included in these figures).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the number of the deceased, the geographical scope of Israel\u2019s attacks on Iran is also striking. Out of Iran\u2019s 31 provinces, 25 were targeted during the 12-day war, and 18 of them suffered casualties. Among them, Tehran\u2014the capital and the country\u2019s most populous city\u2014bore the greatest share of destruction and loss, carrying much of the war\u2019s burden. Fifty-seven percent of the martyrs (at least 592 people) were killed in Tehran, more than two-thirds of whom were non-military: civilians and law enforcement officers.
Why Iran\u2019s capital\u2014and not any other city or province\u2014became Israel\u2019s main target in this war remains an open question, one whose answer could help uncover some of the conflict\u2019s hidden dimensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background of the War<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In previous years, the confrontation between Israel and Iran had never been as direct as it is today.Israel conducted acts of sabotage and targeted assassinations inside Iran, while Iran responded indirectly through its allied groups. However, following Israel\u2019s all-out atrocities in Gaza and the subsequent escalation of regional tensions after October 2023 (Mehr 1402), this long-standing shadow conflict ultimately erupted into a direct war between Israel and Iran in June and July 2025 (Khordad and Tir 1404). (For more on Israel\u2019s genocide in Palestine, see the page \u201cPalestine Documentary Films.\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An examination of the daily casualty statistics shows that the deadliest days were the first day of the war and the day before the ceasefire\u2014each marked by an element of surprise compared to the intervening days. Notably, on both of these days, the proportion of civilian deaths was higher than on any other day of the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Changes in the Daily Casualty Statistics of the 12-Day Israel\u2013Iran War Based on the date of injury, from June 12 to June 24, 2025 (In 91 cases, the exact date was unknown; these were evenly distributed across the days and added to the totals).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The number of the dead fluctuated sharply from day to day. To grasp the unfolding of those twelve days, it is essential to retrace the sequence of events. The daily casualty data reveal \u2014more clearly than any other measure\u2014 the enemy\u2019s objectives and the shifting intensity of the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chronology of the 12-Day War Between Israel and Iran: Reviewing the Course of Events<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many were caught off guard by Israel\u2019s massive terrorist assault, though given the tense history of relations, war was by no means an improbable outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dawn Raid of Assassinations on the First Day (June 12, 2025)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

At dawn on Friday, June 12, 2025, many Iranians awoke to the sound of explosions, reviving collective memories of the Iran\u2013Iraq War forty years earlier. Numerous neighborhoods and districts in Tehran\u2014particularly in the north, northeast, and west\u2014were jolted to the core as Israeli attacks struck in the early hours.
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The scope of Israel\u2019s strikes on Tehran extended beyond residential areas to key military installations, including the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the IRGC Aerospace Command Center, and the Parchin complex.
As daylight spread, images of destruction began circulating widely on social media. It soon became clear that Tehran was not the only target: at least 14 other provinces had also come under attack. In addition to the capital, several western, northwestern, and central provinces\u2014including East Azerbaijan, Lorestan, Kermanshah, Qom, and Alborz\u2014witnessed Israeli aggression within the very first hours of the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n
Israeli missiles targeted the Welfare Organization building in Qasr-e Shirin, Kermanshah (June 12, 2025<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In addition to warplanes launching air-to-surface missiles from the skies of neighboring countries, Israel also carried out sabotage operations inside Iran. Israeli agents attempted to disable Iran\u2019s missile and air defense systems through combat drones and targeted terrorist attacks.
From the range of areas and facilities struck in the opening attacks, Israel\u2019s objectives can be broadly categorized as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Assassinating nuclear scientists and specialists
\u2022 Assassinating senior military commanders
\u2022 Assassinating senior political officials
\u2022 Damaging and disabling missile, drone, and aerial capabilities
\u2022 Damaging and disabling radar and air defense systems
\u2022 Damaging and disabling nuclear-related facilities<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The predawn attacks on Tehran on Friday focused heavily on senior military commanders and nuclear specialists, many of whom were at home with family and neighbors. Consequently, Israel\u2019s missile strikes not only killed their intended targets but also claimed the lives of numerous civilians. The high proportion of civilian casualties (52%) on the first day underscores that Israel did not hesitate to strike residential areas in pursuit of its assassination objectives.
In other provinces, first-day strikes primarily targeted Iran\u2019s nuclear, air defense, missile, and aerial infrastructure. Radar installations\u2014including those in Tabriz, Hamedan, and Karaj\u2014air bases in Tabriz and Hamedan, nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, Isfahan, and Arak, and IRGC missile bases in the west and northwest all came under attack on the war\u2019s first day.
Following limited skirmishes between Iran and Israel in November 2024 (Aban 1403), some assumed the predawn and morning attacks on June 12 would be confined to a similar scale, perhaps provoking Iranian retaliation in the days or months ahead. Instead, Israel escalated its campaign, continuing strikes across western and northwestern Iran with ambitions far beyond prior limited operations.
By nightfall, Iran\u2019s air defenses were active in many regions, and around 9 p.m., the Iranian armed forces\u2014having recovered from the initial shock\u2014launched their first wave of missiles at the occupied territories and major cities such as Tel Aviv, despite ongoing Israeli bombardments. This cycle of attacks and counterattacks continued throughout the following days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n
Images of where Iranian missiles hit Israeli buildings in the occupied territories (+<\/a>, +<\/a>, +<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
Is Targeting Iranian Military Commanders on the First Night of the War an Act of Terror?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Before June 12, 2025, Israel and Iran were not engaged in a direct or formal armed conflict. Under the Geneva Conventions (1949) and their Additional Protocols (1977)[5], the targeted killing of Iranian military commanders in their homes\u2014alongside family members and neighbors\u2014constitutes an act of terrorism and a clear violation of international law. No armed conflict between Israel and Iran was underway at the time, nor could these attacks be justified as self-defense, since Iran posed no imminent or specific threat to Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In carrying out these strikes, Israel also violated several fundamental principles of the laws of war: distinction (the obligation to differentiate between military and civilian targets), proportionality (avoiding excessive harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure), and military necessity (limiting attacks to legitimate and necessary military objectives)\u2014principles broadly recognized in the laws of war.
Moreover, Israel\u2019s attacks can be seen as a grave breach of the prohibition on the use of force under Article 2(4) of the UN Charter[6], which obliges all UN member states to refrain from threatening or using force against the territorial integrity or political independence of other states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first-day attacks brought fear and uncertainty across Iran. The hum of drones and UAVs\u2014reminiscent of those deployed in Gaza and southern Lebanon\u2014filled the skies, while the city\u2019s air defenses remained largely silent. Yet within less than 24 hours, Iran responded decisively: new commanders were appointed, citywide air defense systems were activated, and missiles were launched into Israeli territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strikes on the Political Structure and Energy Infrastructure (June 13\u201315, 2025)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

On Saturday morning, the Civil Aviation Organization announced that all flights in Iranian airspace would be suspended until further notice. These developments challenged early assumptions that the attacks were limited in scope, instead signaling the onset of a protracted war between Israel and Iran, with no clear end in sight.
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Overcoming the initial shock reduced Iran\u2019s daily casualties on Saturday through Monday (78, 121, and 56 killed, respectively), compared with 203 fatalities on the first day. Nevertheless, Israel continued to fuel mass killing and intimidation.
At 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 15, Israel struck Tajrish, a busy district in northern Tehran, with heavy missiles while civilians were commuting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Israeli missile strike on Qods Square, Tajrish, Tehran (Sunday, June 15, 2025<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n
In its devastating and brutal attack on Qods Square in Tajrish, Israel not only targeted a building adjacent to Bank Shahr (a local bank) but also struck the main underground water transmission pipeline, causing flooding in the square and along Shariati Avenue (one of main streets in Tehran) to the south. This disrupted drinking water access for residents in the area. Thanks to the around-the-clock efforts of Tehran\u2019s Water Organization staff, severe damage to the water network in District 1 was repaired in less than 48 hours, restoring access to drinking water.
The precise objectives of Israel\u2019s strike on Tajrish remain unclear, but it seems highly unlikely that hitting the main water pipeline was accidental. The attack likely served short-term goals, such as spreading fear and chaos\u2014consistent with Israel\u2019s broader strategy during the opening days of the war\u2014and long-term objectives, including testing methods for targeting energy infrastructure in Iranian cities in preparation for potential future operations. (video<\/a>).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Attack on the Shahran oil depot (Sunday, June 15, 2025)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another noticeable shift in Israel\u2019s methods during the second to fourth days of the war was its effort to damage energy infrastructure and, more importantly, to target Iran\u2019s political and security structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the key sites attacked were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n