Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai said that she was heartbroken and appalled by the bombing of a primary school by the United States and Israeli military attacks on Iran, which claimed the lives of 150 students and staff.

The missile attack destroyed the girl’s primary school in Minab, southern Iran, killing around 150 people and wounding almost 100 others.

“The killing of civilians, especially children, is unconscionable, and I condemn it unequivocally,” Malala, who now works to promote education, said in a social media post.

The UN Peace Messenger also called for the escalation of violence across the region to end, and for justice and accountability to follow.

“All states and parties must uphold their obligations under international law to protect civilians and safeguard schools,” she wrote.

“Every child deserves to live and learn in peace.”

Meanwhile, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has called the bombing of a primary school during the United States and Israeli military attacks on Iran “a grave violation of humanitarian law.”

In a statement released on social media, UNESCO expressed deep alarm at the impact of the military attacks, noting that pupils in a place dedicated to learning are protected under international humanitarian law, and that “attacks against educational institutions endanger students and teachers and undermine the right to education.”

UNESCO said it joined a host of bodies from across the United Nations system and senior officials, including Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, to condemn the military attacks, as well as the retaliatory strikes by Iran that hit several Middle Eastern countries.