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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 Asian News Agency) PHOTO: REUTERS
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has expressed deep concern about the toll that the current military escalation in Iran is taking on children, stating that around 180 children have been killed and many more injured.
In a statement, UNICEF said 168 girls were killed when an attack hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ primary school in Minab, southern Iran, on February 28 while classes were in progress.
Reports indicated that most of the victims were schoolchildren between the ages of seven and 12. He added that 12 more children were killed in other schools in five locations in Iran.
The latest escalation began last week after the United States and Israel launched pre-emptive strikes against targets in Iran, causing regional tensions to deteriorate sharply. The attacks followed the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The conflict has since expanded to multiple fronts in the Gulf region, with Iran vowing retaliation and warning of broader consequences.
Among the deadliest incidents was the attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ Primary 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 organisations.
“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 stressed that children and schools are protected by international humanitarian law and must remain safe places.
According to UNICEF, at least 20 schools and 10 hospitals have been damaged amid ongoing attacks across the region, disrupting children’s access to education and critical health services.
“UNICEF urgently calls on all parties to comply with their obligations under international law and 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 was closely monitoring the situation and stood ready to support humanitarian efforts to help children and families affected by the escalating violence.
