The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accused the United States of conducting airstrikes in the vicinity of a children's oncology hospital in the city of Ahvaz.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated on the "X" social media platform that US forces targeted various locations in Ahvaz on Wednesday night, including the area surrounding the Shahid Baqaei Hospital.
According to the spokesperson, hospital management initiated an emergency evacuation following the strikes. Reports indicate that 211 patients, including children undergoing chemotherapy, were relocated from the medical facility for safety reasons.
Iranian officials have characterized the incident as a "cowardly war crime." Esmaeil Baghaei alleged that the strikes endangered the lives of children and severely disrupted the provision of medical services. Baghaei further criticized countries that have remained silent regarding the targeting of hospitals, arguing that such silence undermines moral credibility. He drew comparisons between this incident and attacks on healthcare facilities allegedly carried out by Israel.
The Ahvaz region, located in southwestern Iran, is a critical industrial and oil-producing hub. Tensions in the Middle East have frequently led to escalations in regional security, with both Iran and the United States maintaining significant military postures in the broader region. While the full extent of the damage remains under assessment, the incident highlights the ongoing fragility of civilian infrastructure during periods of heightened geopolitical friction.
At present, no further information has been released regarding the scale of the damage or when the hospital will fully resume its operations.
