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People and rescue forces work after an Israeli attack on a school in Minab, Iran, February 28, 2026. Abbas Zakeri/Mehr News/WANA (West Asia News Agency) PHOTO: REUTERS
The UN’s International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has expressed deep concern over the death toll the ongoing military escalation in Iran is taking on children, saying around 180 children have reportedly been killed and many more injured.
In a statement, UNICEF said 168 girls were killed when an attack hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ Elementary School in Minab, southern Iran, on February 28 while classes were in session.
Reports indicated that most of the victims were school children aged between seven and 12 years. It added that another 12 children were killed in other schools in five locations in Iran.
The latest escalation began last week after the US and Israel launched pre-emptive strikes on targets in Iran, triggering a sharp escalation in regional tensions. The attacks followed the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Since then, the conflict has widened across multiple fronts in the Gulf region, with Iran vowing retaliation and warning of wider consequences.
Among the deadliest incidents was the strike at Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ Elementary School in Minab, which UNICEF said marked one of the deadliest attacks on a school in the conflict so far and drew widespread condemnation from humanitarian organizations.
“These child victims are a stark reminder of the brutality of war and violence against children, which affects families and communities for generations,” UNICEF said.
The organization emphasized that children and schools are protected under international humanitarian law and must remain safe places.
According to UNICEF, at least 20 schools and 10 hospitals have reportedly been damaged during ongoing strikes across the region, disrupting children’s access to education and critical health services.
“UNICEF urges all parties to uphold their obligations under international law and to ensure the protection of civilians,” the statement said.
The agency added that the lives and well-being of children must always be protected under international humanitarian law, and said it is closely monitoring the situation and stands ready to support humanitarian efforts to help children and families affected by the escalating violence.
