Iran’s military confirmed on Friday that 56 of its soldiers were killed during the 12-day conflict with Israel, as Israeli officials claimed a wider toll that included more than 20 senior commanders and 11 nuclear scientists.

Iran Releases First Official Military Casualty Count

In its first official casualty statement, the Iranian military acknowledged the loss of 56 personnel. This came days after Israel launched a wide-ranging assault on Iranian territory, beginning on June 13, with the goal of disrupting Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Iranian state TV reported that among the casualties were members of the armed forces, intelligence units, and civilians.

Israel Claims High-Value Targets Neutralized

A senior Israeli military official told Reuters that more than 20 top-level Iranian figures, including commanders and nuclear specialists, were killed during the campaign. He said some were “targeted inside their homes.”

Israel claims its strikes severely damaged Iran’s air defenses and missile production, with over 900 strategic sites hit. “We dealt a major blow to Iran’s missile production and nuclear fuel enrichment capacity,” the official said, adding that the campaign neutralized Iran’s ability to enrich uranium to 90%.

U.S. Strikes and Strategic Goals

On June 22, the United States joined the campaign, striking key nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The extent of damage remains unclear, but Iranian state media acknowledged that civilian and scientific infrastructure had been hit.

Independent analysts say that despite the scope of destruction, Iran’s nuclear core remains largely intact, raising questions about the long-term impact of the U.S.-Israeli strikes.