A major hospital in Tehran was struck in an overnight airstrike on March 1, leaving the Gandhi Hospital building badly damaged and prompting sharp accusations from Iranian authorities that the United States and Israel carried out the attack. Iranian state media and officials said the bombardment shattered walls and windows, scattered rubble through wards and forced emergency responses as at least one hospital staffer suffered a severe brain injury and underwent surgery.
Video footage released by Iranian state outlets shows heavy structural damage to the hospital and reports say two neighbouring buildings, including a residential block, were also hit. Local residents described being jarred awake by a powerful blast that shattered fixtures and damaged personal belongings; witnesses said some suffered hearing loss from the shockwave even where they sustained no visible cuts or bruises.
Iranian lawmakers and diplomats escalated the rhetoric in the aftermath, with one member of parliament saying the strikes have severely damaged at least nine hospitals across the country. The foreign ministry accused the United States and Israel of indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure — naming hospitals, schools, Red Crescent facilities and cultural sites — and said such actions constitute a serious violation of international law.
The World Health Organization’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the attack on Gandhi Hospital as “deeply worrying,” underlining that hospitals and medical personnel are protected under international humanitarian law and urging all parties to take steps to prevent medical facilities from becoming targets. Independent verification of who carried out the strikes was not available at the time of reporting, and US and Israeli authorities had not issued immediate public confirmations or denials.
The incident matters beyond the immediate casualties and material damage because attacks on medical infrastructure carry both legal and strategic consequences. If verified, strikes on hospitals would heighten international condemnation, complicate humanitarian access in any ensuing escalation and increase pressure on international institutions — from the UN Security Council to aid agencies — to investigate and respond. Domestically, Tehran’s narrative of civilian suffering could be used to rally public support and justify reciprocal measures, raising the risk of broader regional spillover and further disruption to an already fraught security environment.
What to watch next are independent investigations, possible United Nations or WHO inquiries, and Tehran’s operational response. The diplomatic fallout will hinge on whether evidence surfaces that clearly attributes the strike and whether external governments press for accountability or moves toward de-escalation. For civilians and aid organisations, the immediate concern is ensuring medical care can continue and that remaining hospitals are protected from further strikes.