UNESCO Condemns U.S.-Israel Girls' School Bombing that Killed 160

A missile strike that destroyed a girls’ primary school in the southern Iranian city of Minab has drawn condemnation from the United Nations education agency UNESCO, which said the attack represents a serious violation of international humanitarian law protecting schools and civilians.

UNESCO said it was “deeply alarmed by the impact of the ongoing military escalation in the Middle East on educational institutions, students, and education personnel.”

Initial reports indicated that a strike on a girls’ primary school in Minab, southern Iran, killed at least 160 people and wounded nearly 100 others, with many of the victims believed to be students.

The attack occurred Saturday during the first day of U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran. The missiles destroyed the school building, according to initial information cited by the UN agency.Iran foreign press office

UNESCO stated that “the killing of pupils in a place dedicated to learning constitutes a grave violation of the protection afforded to schools under international humanitarian law.”

It also warned that “attacks against educational institutions endanger students and teachers and undermine the right to education.”

The UN agency noted that schools are protected civilian sites under international humanitarian law and reiterated obligations outlined in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2601 (2021), which calls on all parties in conflict to safeguard education facilities.

“In accordance with its mandate and with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2601 (2021), UNESCO recalls the obligations of all parties to protect schools, students and education personnel,” the organization said.

The statement was part of broader concern across the United Nations system about the widening regional conflict. UNESCO joined other UN bodies and senior officials, including Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in condemning both the ongoing military attacks and Iran’s retaliatory strikes across the Middle East.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and UN Messenger of Peace Malala Yousafzai also condemned the strike. She said she was “heartbroken and appalled” by the bombing and emphasized that the killing of civilians, particularly children, is unacceptable.

“The killing of civilians, especially children, is unconscionable, and I condemn it unequivocally,” she wrote on social media, calling for the violence across the region to end.

Malala also urged governments and armed actors to respect international law. “All states and parties must uphold their obligations under international law to protect civilians and safeguard schools,” she said, adding that “every child deserves to live and learn in peace.”

UNESCO stressed that the destruction of educational institutions during conflict not only endangers immediate lives but also undermines long-term social stability and recovery.

The agency warned that continued escalation risks further damage to civilian infrastructure across the Middle East.

UN agencies warn that attacks on schools, hospitals and other civilian sites can have long-term consequences for education systems and humanitarian access.