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February 28, 2026 – Women Journalists Without Chains has expressed grave concern over the large-scale military escalation launched on Saturday by United States and Israeli forces against multiple targets inside the Islamic Republic of Iran,
followed by Iranian retaliatory strikes against targets in several countries across the Middle East.
According to available information, the military operations began in the early hours of 28 February with hundreds of air and missile strikes reportedly targeting major urban centers, including Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, and Karaj. The geographic scope and intensity of the attacks mark a significant expansion of hostilities, heightening fears of a broader regional confrontation.
Field reports indicate that several strikes impacted densely populated areas, resulting in civilian casualties, including children. The Iranian Red Crescent reported that more than 200 people had been killed and hundreds injured as of 23:00 Tehran time. The United States Central Command stated that it is reviewing reports of civilian harm arising from the strikes.
Particular concern surrounds a reported airstrike in southeastern Iran that struck an elementary school, killing and injuring dozens of students. If confirmed, the attack on a school would constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law and may amount to a war crime. Educational facilities are civilian objects protected under the laws of armed conflict and must not be targeted.
Women Journalists Without Chains also raised alarm over reports of digital repression and widespread communication blackouts coinciding with the military operations. Disruptions to internet and telecommunications services have reportedly isolated millions of civilians and obstructed access to emergency medical assistance, while limiting independent reporting from affected areas.
The organization reminded all parties to the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the duty to distinguish at all times between civilian objects and military objectives and to ensure that any attack complies with the principle of proportionality. The Fourth Geneva Convention explicitly protects civilians and prohibits attacks against civilian persons and infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and residential neighborhoods. The Safe Schools Declaration further reinforces commitments to shield educational institutions from the effects of armed conflict.
Acting pursuant to its human rights responsibility, Women Journalists Without Chains calls for the immediate cessation of all military operations targeting urban and densely populated areas to prevent further civilian harm, urging all parties to resort to diplomacy as the only sustainable means of resolving disputes. The organization further calls for the establishment of an independent and impartial international investigation into the reported strike on the elementary school in southeastern Iran, to ensure accountability for those responsible.
It also called on the Iranian authorities to guarantee the safety of journalists and media workers covering developments on the ground and to lift restrictions on internet access to ensure transparency and facilitate humanitarian response efforts.
Finally, Women Journalists Without Chains urged the international community, including the United Nations Security Council, to convene urgently and take effective measures to prevent further escalation and avert a full-scale regional war whose consequences would be borne primarily by civilians, particularly women and children.
The organization stated that it will continue to monitor developments closely and document violations affecting civilians and their broader human rights impact.
