TEHRAN, PARIS: Iran said on Tuesday that 27 inmates are still at large after an Israeli airstrike targeted Evin prison in the north of the capital, Tehran, according to local media reports.

The airstrikes were part of Israel's 12-day bombardment of Iran, which resulted in approximately 1,100 fatalities.

In response, Iranian retaliatory strikes led to the deaths of 28 individuals in Israel.

The airstrike on Evin prison, where around 1,500 to 2,000 prisoners were being held at the time, killed 71 people, as per Iranian officials.

However, local media had earlier reported that 80 individuals, including prison staff, soldiers, inmates, and visiting family members, lost their lives in the attack.

It is unclear why Israel targeted Evin prison.

The New York-based Center for Human Rights criticized Israel for striking the prison, stating it violated the principle of distinction between civilian and military targets.

Amnesty International, an international NGO focused on protecting human rights, described the Israeli attack as 'deliberate' and a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

They called for the airstrikes to be criminally investigated as war crimes.

Amnesty International assessed verified video footage, satellite images, and witness statements to determine that multiple air strikes on Evin prison killed and injured scores of civilians, resulting in extensive damage and destruction across at least six locations within the prison complex.

There was no justification for considering Evin prison a 'legal military objective,' according to Amnesty International.