Iran's Education Minister Alireza Kazemi revealed on Wednesday that 206 students and teachers have been killed in what he described as "coordinated US-Israeli military operations" since late February 2026. The announcement came during a funeral ceremony honoring military commanders killed in the same attacks, with 161 additional educational staff and students reported injured.
Speaking to state news agency IRNA, Kazemi condemned the strikes that have reportedly targeted school facilities across multiple provinces. The claims follow heightened regional tensions after February 28, when Iranian authorities say a joint US-Israel operation initiated a deadly escalation resulting in over 1,200 fatalities and nearly 10,000 injuries nationwide.
While international observers await independent verification of casualty figures, the reported targeting of educational institutions has drawn particular concern from humanitarian organizations. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has called for an immediate investigation into the allegations.
This development comes as Middle Eastern security analysts note unprecedented military coordination between Washington and Jerusalem in early 2026, though neither government has officially acknowledged the operations described by Iranian officials.
