Death Toll in US Airstrikes on Iran Rises to 17

The death toll from U.S. airstrikes on Iranian cities has risen to at least 17, with 115 wounded, according to Iran's Health Ministry, as Washington continues its offensive in response to Iranian attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

The attacks

The U.S. military struck approximately 90 targets across six Iranian cities on July 8-9, including air defense systems, missile depots, and naval infrastructure, according to CENTCOM. Source: infobae Iran retaliated by launching attacks on U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, per the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Source: diariolibree

Casualties and response

Health Ministry spokesman Hosein Kermanpour updated the toll from an earlier 14 deaths and 78 injuries. Source: infobae The updated figure includes one woman, but it is unclear if military casualties are included. Source: diariolibree Iran’s UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani demanded the UN stop the "illegal act of aggression" and warned Tehran might abandon the June memorandum. Source: infobae

Political context

President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire ended after Iran’s attacks on ships but later said Washington would continue talks, though without a new truce. Source: diariolibree The U.S. justified the strikes as necessary to ensure free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.