Hundreds of civilians have been reportedly killed following large-scale United States and Israeli missile and air strikes across Iran, according to Iranian state media and humanitarian sources. On Saturday evening, Iran’s Red Crescent reported to state media that more than 200 civilians were killed and more than 700 were injured during the first day of strikes across 24 of Iran’s 31 provinces.
The worst reported incident occurred in a strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, killing more than 150 people, the majority of whom were children, according to Iranian officials quoted in state media.
By Sunday evening, updated figures for the entire country were not available from authorities, but Iranian diplomats had previously described the civilian toll as "massive." Casualties have also been reported in Israel following retaliatory missile and drone strikes launched by Iran.
On Saturday, the United States and Israel began launching coordinated military strikes across Iran, following what observers described as the largest US military buildup in the Middle East since the 2003 US-led unlawful invasion of Iraq.
Saturday’s targets reportedly included sites in and around Tehran, as well as major cities such as Qom, Kermanshah, Isfahan, and Karaj. The strikes continued on Sunday, marking a second consecutive day of heavy bombardment. In retaliation, Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israel, as well as US bases and assets in Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.
According to Iranian state media, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed during Saturday’s strikes. In response, Tehran announced the formation of a temporary three-member council to govern the country until senior Shiite clerics can select a new Supreme Leader.
The US-Israeli initiation of another war occurred amid diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran. Multiple countries have been hit by the strikes and counterstrikes, with civilian casualties reported in populated cities, and the ongoing talks in Oman have been derailed.
Legal observers widely view the attacks as an act of aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state, in violation of the UN Charter and international law. International law permits the use of force solely for self-defense or when authorized by the UN Security Council. Neither condition has been met in the present case.
On Saturday, the Council convened an emergency meeting following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the strikes and subsequent Iranian counterattacks, saying they violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of several countries in the region.
“Everything must be done to prevent a wider war,” Guterres told the Council, warning that the situation risks “igniting a chain of events that no one can control in the most volatile region of the world.”
He reminded the Council that Article Two of the UN Charter states that all member States “shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State,” and that international law and international humanitarian law must always be respected.
The Secretary-General described the day’s events as a grave threat to international peace and security, urging the international community to unite and pull the entire region “back from the brink”.
He reiterated that lasting peace can only be achieved through peaceful means, including genuine dialogue and negotiations, and noted that the joint military operation by Israel and the United States occurred following indirect talks between the US and Iran mediated by Oman, “squandering” an opportunity for diplomacy.
Calling for de-escalation and an immediate cessation of hostilities, Guterres strongly urged all parties to return to the negotiating table immediately, particularly regarding the future of Iran’s nuclear program
“I call on all member states to strictly uphold their obligations under international law, including the UN Charter, to respect and protect civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law, and to ensure nuclear safety,” he said.
Speaking at the Security Council, Iran’s ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, said that the United States and Israel “initiated unprovoked and premeditated aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran for the second time in recent months.”
“This is not only an act of aggression; it is a war crime and a crime against humanity,” he said, accusing the US and Israel of deliberately attacking civilian populated areas in multiple large cities.
On Saturday, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned the strikes and subsequent retaliation. He emphasized that civilians inevitably bear the greatest cost in armed conflicts.
“As always, in any armed conflict, it is civilians who end up paying the ultimate price,” he said.
Türk stressed that “bombs and missiles are not the way to resolve differences but only result in death, destruction and human misery.”
To avert these terrible consequences for civilians, he called for restraint, imploring all parties to de-escalate and return to the negotiating table, where they had been actively seeking a solution only hours earlier.
“I have already warned that failing to do so risks an even wider conflict, that will inevitably lead to further senseless civilian deaths and destruction on a potentially unimaginable scale, not just in Iran but across the Middle East region,” he added.
Türk reminded all parties that international law regarding armed conflict is clear: The protection of civilians is paramount. Every actor involved must ensure compliance with these laws. Those responsible for violations must be held accountable.
UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran Mai Sato has also condemned the strikes.
“The US-Israeli strikes were launched in violation of the UN Charter and without authorization from the Security Council. We cannot pick and choose when international law applies,” she said in a statement on social media.
Sato added that she is “closely monitoring the human rights impact of this escalation,” particularly regarding the consequences for civilians and essential infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has warned that the military escalation in the Middle East is "igniting a dangerous chain reaction" across the region, which could have devastating consequences for civilians.
“Upholding the rules of war is an obligation and not a choice. In international armed conflicts, international humanitarian law, in particular all four Geneva Conventions, apply,” she said.
“Civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, homes and schools must be spared from attack. Medical personnel and first responders must be allowed to carry out their work safely.”