Universities hit as strikes on Iran expand, At least 30 campuses affected
Iran’s Minister of Science, Research and Technology Hossein Simaei Saraf said parts of dozens of universities have been damaged since fighting began on February 28
At least 30 universities in Iran have been affected by US and Israeli strikes since the start of the war, authorities said, as attacks increasingly hit infrastructure linked to research, health and industry.
Iran's Minister of Science, Research and Technology Hossein Simaei Saraf said parts of dozens of universities have been damaged since fighting began on February 28. The latest strike hit the Laser and Plasma Research Institute at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran on Friday, leaving the facility in ruins.
There were no casualties at the university as classes had already been moved online, though nearby dormitories sustained minor damage. Iranian officials condemned the attack, calling it a blow to scientific research and academic security.
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Other institutions, including Iran University of Science and Technology and the Pasteur Institute in Tehran, have also been hit. The World Health Organization said the Pasteur Institute sustained significant damage, disrupting its ability to provide health services, though no deaths were reported.
The escalation comes as US and Israeli forces widen their strikes beyond military targets to include economic and industrial infrastructure. Heavy bombardment in the southern city of Mahshahr damaged refineries, while Iranian authorities reported casualties.
Iranian officials say more than 2,000 people have been killed in attacks on civilian areas, including homes, schools and businesses, though the figures could not be independently verified.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz, with Washington warning of further action if Iran does not reopen the key shipping route. Tehran has vowed retaliation, raising fears of a broader regional escalation.
