Reported Strike on School in Southern Iran
At least 148 people have died following a reported strike on a school in southern Iran, according to Iranian officials.
Iran has attributed responsibility for the incident to the US and Israel. US media reported that the military's Central Command (Centcom) is investigating the reports, while Israel's military stated it was "not aware" of any Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operations in the vicinity.
The school was located in Minab, near an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) base, which has previously been targeted.
Casualties and Official Responses
The Iranian Red Crescent reported that since Saturday, at least 201 people have been killed in air strikes across Iran, with 747 injured.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the incident, describing it as a "barbaric act" and "another black page in the record of countless crimes committed by the aggressors."
In a statement reported by US media, Centcom spokesman Tim Hawkins said:
"We take these reports seriously. The protection of civilians is of utmost importance, and we will continue to take all precautions available to minimise the risk of unintended harm."
Humanitarian Response and Verification
Following the incident on Saturday, Red Cross and Red Crescent officials in Geneva announced that response teams had been mobilised to attend the school.
An official reported that the school in Minab, located in Hormozgan province, had been "targeted by three missile attacks." The school is situated approximately 600 meters (1,970 feet) from the IRGC base.
The BBC has verified video clips showing the aftermath of the explosion, which depict smoke rising from a building as crowds gather nearby and individuals can be heard screaming in panic. However, the BBC has not independently verified the death toll. International news organizations often face visa denials in Iran, significantly limiting their capacity to gather information on the ground.
Public Reaction and Context
Iranian social media users have expressed anger following news of the incident. An Iranian expatriate opposing military intervention in Iran commented:
"The first victims of this war are 40 girls in Minab, hit by a missile attack. Is this the war you cheer for?"
However, deep mistrust of the Iranian regime leads many to question official reports. Some Iranians have directly blamed the regime for the attack. One user wrote:
"Even if the regime did not directly target schools, the deaths of children in Minab remain the responsibility of the Islamic Republic. People have no shelters, the internet is cut, phone lines are down, and there has been no warning to keep children out of school. In these conditions, the minimum requirement should be to stay at home."
The school tragedy occurred amid a series of air strikes launched by the US and Israel against multiple targets in various Iranian cities throughout Saturday.
The attacks persisted on Sunday, following an air strike that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with many of his senior commanders.
