Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The war between the United States, Israel, and Iran escalated over the weekend as Iranian authorities reported airstrikes on two major universities, marking a dramatic expansion of the ongoing conflict. Iranian state media said the Isfahan University of Technology in central Iran was struck on Sunday for the second time in recent days, following an earlier attack on the Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran. Provincial officials are investigating the extent of the damage and potential casualties.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes as attacks on civilian academic infrastructure, accusing the U.S. and Israel of targeting institutions with no military purpose. A government spokesperson described the assaults as part of a broader campaign to undermine Iran’s scientific and cultural foundations.
In an unprecedented escalation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that all U.S. and Israeli universities in West Asia are now considered “legitimate targets” unless Washington formally condemns the attacks. The IRGC warned students, faculty, and nearby residents to maintain a safe distance of at least one kilometer from campuses. Regional universities, including the American University of Beirut, temporarily moved classes online amid the heightened tensions. Iranian officials also suggested that universities in allied countries, including Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, could become targets if strikes continue.
The university attacks come amid the broader Middle East conflict that entered its 30th day on Sunday, involving airstrikes, missile and drone exchanges, and ground operations across multiple fronts. Iran-aligned groups, including Houthi rebels in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon, have engaged Israeli forces, while U.S. and Israeli operations have targeted Iranian territory and its allies. Key shipping lanes, such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, have been disrupted, threatening global energy and trade flows. Diplomatic efforts, including mediation attempts by Pakistan, have so far failed to produce a ceasefire.
Analysts say the strikes on universities mark a troubling expansion of the conflict, bringing civilian and educational institutions into the line of fire. Beyond the immediate risk to human life, the attacks threaten decades of academic research and regional collaboration. Tehran frames the assaults as a deliberate attempt to intimidate the country and weaken its scientific infrastructure, while international observers warn of potential violations of international humanitarian law.
Both sides remain entrenched. Iran has vowed retaliation if its demands are not met, while the U.S. and Israel have not publicly confirmed responsibility for the university attacks. The conflict continues to unfold, raising fears of a broader regional confrontation that could have far-reaching consequences for civilian populations, academic communities, and international stability.
