Islamabad: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Sunday warned that US- and Israeli-linked universities in the region are now ‘legitimate targets’ in retaliation for attacks on Iranian educational facilities. In a statement carried by the semi-official Fars news agency, the IRGC accused the US and Israel of repeatedly bombing Iranian universities, including Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran.

According to Anadolu Agency, the IRGC announced that all universities associated with Israel and American institutions in West Asia will be considered legitimate targets. This declaration is a response to the destruction of Iranian academic institutions, and the IRGC called on staff and students at US-linked universities in the region, as well as nearby residents, to maintain a safe distance of at least one kilometer from such facilities.

On Wednesday, the IRGC demanded that Washington condemn attacks on Iranian universities or face retaliatory measures. Iranian media reported several US and Israeli strikes on educational facilities, including Isfahan University of Technology and Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran.

The US and Israel have maintained airstrikes on Iran since February 28, leading to over 1,340 casualties, including the death of then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran has launched drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, resulting in casualties and infrastructure damage, while also disrupting global markets and aviation.