ISTANBUL

Iran’s education minister said 206 students and teachers have been killed and 161 others injured in attacks carried out by the US and Israel since late last month, Iranian media reported Wednesday.

Alireza Kazemi made the remarks while speaking to the state news agency IRNA on the sidelines of a funeral ceremony for military commanders killed in the attacks.

Regional escalation has flared since Feb. 28 when Israel and the US launched a joint attack against Iran, killing more than 1,200 people and injuring another 10,000, according to Iranian authorities.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries that are home to US military assets.