more than 153 individuals, among them young children, have reportedly lost their lives after a suspected missile strike struck a school in southern iran, officials in tehran have disclosed.
iranian authorities have pointed fingers at the united states and israel. meanwhile, the us central command confirmed it is reviewing accounts of the explosion, while israel’s defence forces stated they had no knowledge of any military activity in that vicinity.
the all-girls institution stood in minab, close to a base operated by the islamic revolutionary guard corps — a facility that has previously come under attack.
the iranian red crescent reports that since saturday, a minimum of 201 people have been killed across iran due to aerial bombardments, with 747 others sustaining injuries.
president masoud pezeshkian denounced the episode as a “savage crime” and described it as “yet another dark stain in the long history of atrocities carried out by aggressors.”
in remarks carried by american media outlets, centcom spokesperson tim hawkins said the military treats such allegations with gravity.
“safeguarding civilian lives remains a paramount priority,” he said, adding that every available measure would be taken to reduce the possibility of unintended casualties.
iran observes a six-day work schedule from saturday through thursday, reserving friday as its sole official holiday. this suggests the school was likely in session when the missiles struck.
after the attack on saturday, red cross and red crescent representatives in geneva announced the immediate deployment of emergency teams to the scene.
a local official stated that the school in minab, located in hormozgan province, was hit by three separate missiles.
the building lies approximately 600 metres from the irgc installation.
verified footage reviewed by the bbc captures the chaotic aftermath: thick smoke billowing from the structure, crowds rushing toward the scene, and piercing screams echoing in panic.
one social media commentator wrote that even if authorities did not deliberately aim at educational facilities, the deaths of children in minab still fall on the islamic republic.
the post lamented the absence of bomb shelters, the disruption of internet access, collapsed phone networks, and the lack of warnings advising families to keep students at home. under such circumstances, the writer argued, the very least precaution would have been to suspend classes.
the catastrophe unfolded amid relentless waves of air strikes carried out throughout saturday by the united states and israel, targeting sites across several iranian cities.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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