At least three children have been killed and more than 40 minors arrested during eight days of protests across Iran. Human rights groups accuse security forces of "indiscriminate targeting of civilians". The protests began over the country’s currency collapse and rising living costs. They have spread to 78 cities and 222 places. Protesters demand the regime's end. The US-based Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI) say 990 people have been arrested and 20 killed so far. Among the dead children is 15-year-old Mostafa Falahi, shot on 1 January in Azna. A 17-year-old, Rasul Kadivarian, and his 20-year-old brother Reza died on 3 January in Kermanshah when forces fired on protesters. Another 17-year-old minor died in Qom, confirmed by human rights groups but identity not yet verified. Skylar Thompson, deputy director of HRAI, told the Guardian, "These numbers provide clear evidence that youth are present throughout the ongoing protests. The indiscriminate targeting of a civilian population must be widely condemned as a violation of international law, especially with the clear illustration of children present." The protests continue despite harsh crackdowns following Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei calling demonstrators "rioters". A witness from Malekshahi said security forces fired on protesters gathered at a government building, describing the scene as a war zone. Injured protesters were taken to hospitals, but forces raided Khomeini hospital in Ilam city, targeting the wounded. Awyar Shekhi from Hengaw said, "State forces are firing directly at gatherings and protests without regard for whether those targeted are children or adults. The crackdowns are brutal: teargas and military-grade weapons are being used, and detainees are severely beaten before being transferred to undisclosed locations." Another witness from Qom reported that security forces fired pellets, teargas, and bullets at teenagers and children with deadly results. The protests mark a grim continuation of unrest in Iran, following the deadly Woman, Life, Freedom protests last year that killed over 500, including 60 children.