Paris/Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Monday, March 2, 2026, expressed profound alarm over the devastating impact of the ongoing military escalation in West Asia on educational institutions. The agency issued a stern warning that attacks on schools constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law following a catastrophic missile strike on a girls’ primary school in southern Iran.
Preliminary reports from the city of Minab indicate that the attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people, with some estimates citing a toll as high as 180, including a large number of young students. UNESCO stated that the killing of children in a space dedicated to learning represents a grave breach of the specific protections afforded to schools during armed conflict. “Attacks against educational institutions endanger students and teachers and undermine the fundamental right to education,” the organization noted, stressing that all parties involved in the conflict are strictly obligated to safeguard civilian infrastructure.
Recalling the provisions of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2601, UNESCO urged immediate adherence to international commitments that require the protection of students and educational personnel during military operations. The agency joined a chorus of international condemnation, including statements from UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, who described the bombing as “unconscionable.” UNESCO warned that continued hostilities against education systems risk long-term social and humanitarian consequences, particularly for children caught in the crossfire of the regional war, and called for an immediate return to international norms protecting civilian institutions.
