The deadly strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school in Minab, located in southern Iran, has left at least 168 people dead, including about 110 children, according to Iranian officials. The attack occurred on the first day of the latest conflict, with two missile strikes hitting the school in quick succession.
The UN’s human rights chief has pressed the United States to complete its investigation and publish findings promptly, saying the bombing evoked a visceral horror and that justice must be found for the harm done. Volker Türk emphasized that the onus is on those who carried out the attack to investigate promptly, impartially, transparently, and thoroughly.
If a US role were to be confirmed, the outcome would amount to one of the worst single cases of civilian casualties in decades of US involvement in conflicts in the Middle East, he noted. Iranian officials and state media have linked the attack to an American operation, though US authorities have stressed that investigations are ongoing.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the bombing as a deliberate and intentional attack by the United States, while Tehran warned against attempts to justify or downplay the strike. American Defence Department officials have stated that the strike is under investigation, with early reports suggesting the possibility of an error or miscalculation in targeting.
The UN debate underscored the urgency of a swift, impartial, and transparent inquiry and urged the findings to be made public as soon as possible. The tragedy adds to the toll civilians pay in conflicts where children and families bear the brunt of warfare, underscoring the need for accountability and preventive measures to protect schools and noncombatants.
As the investigation unfolds, the international community remains watchful for clarity on responsibility and a clear path toward preventing such horrific losses in the future.
