At least 281 students and teachers have been killed in US-Israeli attacks on Iran since the conflict began last month, an Iranian official said Sunday, as the toll on the country's education sector continues to mount. The figures, released by the Education Ministry, come amid escalating international concern over the targeting of civilian infrastructure in the ongoing war.
TEHRAN – The human cost of the US-Israeli air campaign on Iran extends far beyond military casualties, with educational institutions suffering devastating losses. Hossein Sadeghi, head of the Information and Public Relations Center at Iran's Education Ministry, told state news agency IRNA that 222 students, four preschool children, 48 teachers, and seven retired education staff have been killed in the attacks since February 28.
Sadeghi added that 185 students and education personnel have also been injured in the US-Israeli assault, which has targeted facilities across the country.
Widespread Damage to Educational Infrastructure
The attacks have caused extensive damage to Iran's education system, with Sadeghi reporting that 789 administrative, cultural, and educational facilities have been struck. The damage includes:
700 schools
40 administrative buildings
30 sports facilities
Five student camps
14 cultural and educational centers
The destruction of hundreds of schools has disrupted education for thousands of Iranian children and young people, adding a humanitarian dimension to a conflict already marked by significant civilian casualties.
International Concerns Over Targeting of Civilian Infrastructure
The Iranian figures come amid growing international scrutiny of the targeting practices employed by the US and Israel in their air campaign. Under international humanitarian law, educational facilities are considered protected civilian infrastructure and are not legitimate military targets unless they are being used for military purposes.
The reported scale of damage to schools and educational centers has raised questions about whether the targeting of these facilities complies with international legal standards. The Iranian government has accused the US and Israel of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, a charge both nations have denied.
Broader Civilian Toll
The education sector casualties are part of a broader civilian toll that has mounted since the US and Israel launched their joint offensive on Iran on February 28. According to Iranian figures, more than 1,340 people have been killed in the strikes, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran's Red Crescent has previously reported that more than 82,000 civilian structures have been damaged or destroyed, including over 62,000 homes, 281 medical facilities, and 498 schools. The targeting of educational institutions appears to have intensified in recent weeks.
Iran's Retaliation
Iran has retaliated with waves of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. These attacks have caused casualties and damaged infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned Sunday that US- and Israeli-linked universities in the region are now "legitimate targets" in retaliation for strikes on Iranian educational facilities—a statement that suggests Tehran is prepared to escalate its own targeting of academic institutions.
International Response
The mounting civilian toll has drawn condemnation from international human rights organizations and several governments. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot condemned the killing of journalists in Lebanon over the weekend, warning that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure violates international law.
However, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have yet to yield a breakthrough. Pakistan has positioned itself as a key mediator, hosting the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt over the weekend for consultations on de-escalation. China has expressed support for Pakistan's mediation role.
The Children's Toll
Among the most devastating figures released by the Education Ministry are the four preschool children killed in the attacks. The deaths of young children in a conflict that began with strikes on military and nuclear facilities underscore the difficulty of conducting airstrikes in populated areas without causing civilian casualties.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly called for investigations into civilian casualties in the conflict, but access to affected areas remains limited, and independent verification of casualty figures is difficult.
Analysis: A Conflict Expanding to Civilian Life
The Iranian Education Ministry's figures on student and teacher casualties reveal a conflict that has expanded far beyond its initial military objectives. What began as a targeted campaign against Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure has become a war that is reshaping civilian life across the country.
For the 700 schools reported damaged or destroyed, the impact will be felt for years. Education disruptions have long-term consequences for children's development, future opportunities, and the broader society. The loss of 281 educators and students is not merely a statistic but a generation of Iranians whose lives have been cut short or forever altered.
As the conflict enters its second month, the question of civilian protection becomes ever more urgent. The targeting of educational facilities—whether deliberate or collateral—raises fundamental questions about the conduct of the war and the responsibility of all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
With no ceasefire in sight and both sides signaling willingness to escalate, the toll on Iran's education system—and on the children who should be its beneficiaries—is likely to grow.
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