The Middle East conflict has entered its third week, marked by a 'spiral of violence' as US-Israeli strikes target Iranian military and nuclear sites. In response, Iran launched drone and missile attacks on Gulf states.
Sara Hossein, chair of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, reported that more than 168 people, mostly girls aged seven to teens, were killed in an airstrike on a school in Minab, southern Iran. Residential areas, oil depots, and a desalination plant were destroyed, causing severe harm to civilians.
The Special Rapporteur on Iran, Mai Sato, confirmed 1,000 civilian deaths, including attacks on hospitals and World Heritage sites. Three million Iranians are now displaced, with no functional air raid sirens or shelters in many cities.
Iran’s UN envoy Ali Bahreini claimed over 1,300 dead and 7,000 injured, including a six-month-old infant. The Gulf Cooperation Council and Jordan condemned Iranian attacks, welcoming UN Security Council Resolution 2817, backed by 136 nations.
ASEAN and the Philippines warned against normalizing the escalating violence, stressing the toll on children and innocent lives.