Iran has urged the international community to intervene after air strikes by the United States and Israel damaged hospitals, schools and other civilian facilities across the country, as Tehran continues to launch missiles and drones across the region.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei accused Washington and Tel Aviv of carrying out indiscriminate attacks. He said the two countries had struck residential areas and critical civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, Red Crescent facilities and cultural landmarks.
At the start of the conflict, International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric stressed that all parties must respect international humanitarian law. She said civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, homes and schools must not be targeted and that medical workers and emergency responders must be allowed to operate safely.
Hospitals damaged, evacuations ordered
Several hospitals in Tehran and other cities have suffered damage from nearby air strikes, prompting evacuations. Authorities said they have received no confirmed reports of direct hits on hospital buildings.
In northern Tehran, footage aired by state media showed heavy damage around Gandhi Hospital after a projectile struck a nearby site. Mohammad Raeiszadeh, head of Iran’s Medical Council, said the hospital’s in-vitro fertilisation department was destroyed, forcing staff to relocate sensitive medical materials, including embryos. Videos also showed nurses moving infants from the facility overnight.
Reports suggested the damage occurred after Israeli forces struck buildings housing Channel 2 of Iran’s state broadcaster and a nearby communications antenna. The attack briefly disrupted television programming. The broadcaster later confirmed that some of its departments had been hit but provided no further details.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, described reports of damage to medical facilities as “extremely worrying” and said the agency was working to verify the information.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society released video footage showing damage near one of its main buildings close to Khatam al-Anbiya Hospital. The surrounding area, which includes Motahari Hospital, known for treating burn victims, and Valiasr Hospital, reportedly sustained damage or required emergency evacuations.
Schools and sports facilities hit
Air strikes also affected educational and sports facilities. In Tehran’s eastern Narmak neighbourhood, an attack near 72 Square damaged a high school. Authorities reported that at least two children were killed.
Local media claimed the intended target may have been former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, though officials did not confirm whether he was present or injured.
In the southern province of Fars, authorities said a strike on a sports centre in Lamerd caused multiple casualties.
The deadliest reported incident occurred at a girls’ school in the southern city of Minab. Iranian officials said 165 people were killed and 95 wounded after two days of search and rescue operations, with most of the victims reportedly children. The provincial governor released a handwritten list naming 56 victims but did not provide further details.
The United States acknowledged reports of civilian casualties at the school and said it was investigating. The Israeli military said it was unaware of any Israeli or US strikes in that area.
Education International condemned the reported attack on the school, stating that children, teachers and educational institutions must never be treated as military targets. The group described the killing and wounding of students and educators as a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
As the conflict intensifies, Iranian authorities continue to call for international solidarity and accountability, warning that attacks on civilian infrastructure threaten to deepen the humanitarian crisis.