Iran Reports 18 Dead, 142 Injured in US Strikes; Trump Predicts Short Conflict
Iran says US strikes killed 18 and injured 142, many women and minors. Trump says clashes won't last long.
Iran's health ministry has released a detailed casualty count from the latest round of US military strikes, reporting 18 fatalities and 142 injuries. The figures were shared by ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour on social media platform X.
According to the official tally, the injured include 61 women and 44 individuals under the age of 18, indicating a significant civilian presence among those affected. The ministry did not provide a further breakdown of the deceased.
The announcement comes as the conflict between Washington and Tehran escalates this week, with both sides trading military actions. The precise locations and timing of the strikes that produced these casualties were not specified in the ministry's statement.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has offered a contrasting assessment of the situation, suggesting that the current clashes will not extend over a prolonged period. His remarks signal an expectation of a limited or short-lived military engagement, even as ground-level reports from Iran point to substantial human cost.
The divergent narratives — Tehran emphasizing civilian harm and Washington projecting a brief confrontation — underscore the widening gap in how the two capitals are framing the conflict to their respective publics.