US Investigates Strike on Iranian School, Amid Rising Death Toll

The United States is investigating a recent airstrike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school in Minab, Iran, which Iranian officials claim resulted in the deaths of at least 165 students. The strike occurred on Saturday, coinciding with the first day of joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran and has drawn international condemnation and calls for accountability.

Details of the Strike and Casualties

Iranian state media reports that in addition to the fatalities, 96 others were injured in the attack, many of whom were students attending classes at the school The Guardian. The United Nations human rights office has urged those responsible for the “deadly attack” to conduct a thorough investigation and provide information about the incident The Guardian.

US Response and Investigation

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the US is “investigating” the incident, but offered few details. He reiterated that the US does not intentionally target civilian areas The Guardian. The Pentagon is currently reviewing the incident, but has not committed to a formal investigation or accountability measures USA Today.

International Condemnation and Calls for Accountability

Human rights organizations are demanding investigations into potential war crimes and violations of international law. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) emphasized the demand for prompt, independent, and transparent investigations into all alleged violations, including attacks on schools and civilian infrastructure USA Today. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed alarm over reports of strikes on civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, and stressed the importance of protecting children during conflict USA Today.

Broader Conflict Context

The strike on the school occurred amidst a wider conflict, with over 800 reported deaths across the Middle East since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran. These attacks resulted in the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompting retaliatory strikes from Iran against several countries in the region The Guardian. The US military has indicated that the initial strikes on Iran were nearly double the scale of the “shock-and-awe” strikes on Iraq in 2003, with approximately 2,000 targets hit so far The Guardian.

Funeral and Mourning

Thousands of mourners gathered in Minab on Tuesday for the funeral of those killed in the airstrike on the girls’ elementary school The Guardian.