UNESCO alarmed over more than 100 killed in Iran school attack, violating international law

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on Monday expressed deep alarm over the impact of ongoing military escalation in West Asia on educational institutions, warning that attacks on schools constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.

In a statement issued amid intensifying hostilities in the region, UNESCO said preliminary reports indicated that an attack on a girls’ primary school in Minab in southern Iran had resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people, including a large number of students.

The organisation said the killing of children in a space dedicated to learning represented a grave breach of protections afforded to schools during armed conflict.

“Attacks against educational institutions endanger students and teachers and undermine the fundamental right to education,” UNESCO said, stressing that all parties involved in the conflict are obligated to safeguard civilian infrastructure, particularly schools.

Recalling the provisions of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2601, UNESCO urged adherence to international commitments requiring the protection of students, education personnel and educational facilities during military operations.

The agency warned that continued attacks on education systems risk long-term social and humanitarian consequences, particularly for children caught in conflict zones, and called for immediate respect for international norms protecting civilian institutions.