Iran accuses US, Israel of targeting universities; Houthis launch fresh Israel attack

Tehran: Iran has accused the United States and Israel of deliberately targeting its academic institutions and scientific infrastructure amid intensifying conflict in the region.

In a statement posted on X on Sunday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei claimed that recent strikes have focused on universities, research centres and cultural landmarks, suggesting a broader strategy to undermine the country’s intellectual foundations.

Baqaei alleged that institutions such as Isfahan University of Technology and the University of Science and Technology in Tehran- key pillars of Iran’s higher education and research network have been hit during the past 30 days of hostilities.

He rejected US and Israeli assertions that their actions are aimed at countering Iran’s nuclear programme or an imminent threat, describing such claims as “vicious pretexts” intended to mask what Tehran views as a deliberate campaign against its scientific and cultural assets.

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According to Baqaei, the attacks indicate that the true objective of the military campaign is to weaken Iran’s academic capacity and heritage by systematically targeting centres of learning, prominent scientists and historical sites.

The remarks reflect increasingly strong rhetoric from Tehran, which maintains that the conflict has expanded beyond conventional military targets.

Meanwhile, the regional situation continues to deteriorate. Yemen’s Houthi movement announced on Sunday that it had carried out a “second military operation” against Israel, deploying cruise missiles and drones aimed at what it described as vital and military sites in southern Israel.

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In a statement shared on Telegram, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the operation formed part of what the group calls the “Holy Jihad Battle”, adding that it coincided with actions by allied forces, including groups in Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon. He claimed the strikes had successfully achieved their objectives.

The announcement follows the group’s formal entry into the conflict a day earlier, marking a further escalation in tensions across West Asia.