Iran has reported that at least 12 journalists and media personnel were killed during the recent war with Israel, alleging that the strikes were deliberate efforts to silence the country’s media voice.
The revelation was made public on Thursday through state-run media, including a report by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), which cited the Basij paramilitary forces’ media division — a body linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The updated death toll comes after the identification of two additional media workers, bringing the number of confirmed fatalities among journalists and media staff to twelve. According to the Basij’s media wing, Israel’s attacks during the war were not random but intentionally directed at press infrastructure.
They accused the Israeli military of trying to “silence the voice of truth” and weaken the “media of the Resistance Front,” referring to Iranian-backed groups across the region that oppose Israel’s policies and actions.
This accusation follows the broader pattern of destruction inflicted during the 12-day conflict that erupted on June 13 with what Tehran described as a surprise Israeli offensive. The war, unprecedented in scale and intensity, involved strikes on Iranian military assets, nuclear facilities, and populated areas, including residential neighborhoods.
Among the targets hit during the conflict was the Iranian state broadcasting service’s headquarters in northern Tehran, an incident Tehran cited as evidence of Israel’s alleged strategy to dismantle its communication apparatus. While Israel has yet to respond officially to these specific allegations, it has previously justified its attacks during the war as preemptive or retaliatory strikes against military threats.
Iranian officials report that the Israeli bombardment resulted in 1,060 fatalities, including senior military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians. The heavy toll has left significant scars in Iran’s urban landscape and national psyche, as families grieve losses and infrastructure remains damaged.
In response, Iran launched waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli territory. These retaliatory strikes, according to Israeli authorities, resulted in the deaths of at least 28 individuals, including both military personnel and civilians.
Though the war formally ended after nearly two weeks of intense fighting, the human and political consequences continue to unfold. Accusations regarding the targeting of journalists are now emerging as a new front in the conflict’s aftermath, drawing concern from press freedom advocates and international observers.
What you should know
Iran claims that 12 journalists and media workers were killed during its recent 12-day war with Israel, alleging intentional targeting of press institutions by Israeli forces.
The conflict, which began with an Israeli offensive on June 13, left over 1,000 people dead in Iran, including high-ranking officials and civilians, while Iranian retaliation killed 28 in Israel.
