27 Inmates Escape Post Airstrike on Tehran's Evin Prison

Tehran, July 22 (AP) — Iran has reported that 27 inmates remain at large following an Israeli airstrike last month on Evin Prison located in northern Tehran. The incident comes in the wake of a 12-day bombardment campaign by Israel against Iran, resulting in approximately 1,100 Iranian casualties. Retaliatory strikes from Iran left 28 dead in Israel.

According to a report by Mizanonline, the judiciary's news platform, spokesman Asghar Jahangir stated that the airstrike enabled 75 prisoners to escape. Of these, 48 have been either recaptured or have returned voluntarily. Authorities have issued a notice promising to apprehend those who remain at large if they do not surrender.

Jahangir noted that the escapees were individuals serving sentences for minor offenses. Meanwhile, Iranian officials have reported that the Israeli assault resulted in 71 fatalities, although earlier local media accounts tallied 80 deaths, which included prison staff, soldiers, inmates, and visiting family members. Five inmates were confirmed dead.

The motives behind Israel's targeting of the prison remain unclear. The Israeli Defense Ministry had previously stated that the operation involved 50 aircraft dropping 100 munitions on military targets, informed by "high-quality and accurate intelligence from the Intelligence Branch." The New York-based Centre for Human Rights condemned the strike on Evin Prison, a site seen as a symbol of repression against opposition, citing a breach of the principle distinguishing civilian from military targets.

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