Key facts
- Over 7,300 people have been killed in Iran and Lebanon since February 28, according to official reports.
- Iranian government figures indicate 3,468 Iranians killed, including 1,460 civilians and 2,008 military personnel.
- Lebanese health authorities report 3,912 deaths from Israeli attacks, including 366 women and 247 children.
- Israeli authorities state 60 people have been killed, mostly by Iranian attacks and Hezbollah fighting.
- Experts suggest official casualty figures are likely undercounts due to reporting limitations and restrictions.
Thousands of people have been killed across the Middle East since the US-Israeli war with Iran began in February, with official figures from Iran and Lebanon alone exceeding 7,300 deaths. However, experts and analysts suggest these numbers are likely an undercount due to significant limitations in reporting, including government restrictions on internet and media, the presence of armed groups, and political repression that discourages public reporting of casualties.
Official Iranian government figures report at least 3,468 Iranians killed, comprising 1,460 civilians and 2,008 military personnel. In contrast, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) claims a higher toll of 3,636 deaths in Iran, including 1,701 civilians, 307 of whom were children. HRANA considers its documented figures to be "absolute minimums" due to severe access limitations and government actions.
In Lebanon, health authorities state that 3,912 people have been confirmed killed in Israeli attacks, with 366 women and 247 children among the deceased. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that 3,000 Hezbollah fighters have been killed. The United Nations has also reported the deaths of seven of its peacekeepers in Lebanon.
Israeli authorities report 60 deaths, primarily attributed to Iranian attacks and fighting with Hezbollah, including 29 civilians and 31 IDF soldiers. US President Donald Trump has criticized the Israeli military's conduct, stating that "too many people have been killed" and questioning the necessity of destroying apartment buildings.
Iranian forces have also struck neighboring Arab states hosting US bases with missiles and drones. Thirteen US military personnel have been killed in the Middle East, with seven attributed to Iranian attacks and six in a refuelling plane crash. Additionally, 14 sailors died in strikes on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and other Middle Eastern locations.
Experts like Dr. Iain Overton of Action on Armed Violence note that casualty figures are often incomplete, delayed, or impossible to independently verify due to the multi-country nature of the conflict, access restrictions, damaged infrastructure, and political sensitivities. The final death toll is expected to remain contested for years after the conflict concludes.