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Deadly strike hits girls' school in Minab
At least 148 people, including children, died after a reported missile attack struck a girls' school in southern Iran on Saturday, Iranian officials confirmed. The incident occurred in Minab, Hormozgan province, near an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) base.
Iran blames US and Israel; responses vary
Iranian authorities swiftly attributed the attack to the United States and Israel. However, the US military's Central Command (Centcom) stated it was investigating the reports, while Israel's military denied involvement, saying it was "not aware" of any Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operations in the area.
"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,"
Tim Hawkins, Centcom spokesman
Wider conflict escalates
The school strike is part of a broader surge in violence. According to the Iranian Red Crescent, air strikes across Iran since Saturday have killed at least 201 people and injured 747 others. The attacks continued into Sunday following the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior commanders in an earlier strike.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the school attack as a "barbaric act" and "another black page in the record of countless crimes committed by the aggressors."
Aftermath and verification challenges
The BBC verified footage showing smoke rising from the school building, with crowds gathering and screams heard in the background. However, independent verification of the death toll remains difficult due to restricted access for international journalists in Iran.
The Red Cross and Red Crescent mobilised response teams to the site, with an official stating the school was "targeted by three missile attacks." The school is located approximately 600 meters (1,970 feet) from an IRGC base, a previous target in the region.
Public reaction and skepticism
Iranian social media erupted with outrage over the attack. An Iranian living abroad opposed to military intervention wrote, "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 led some to question official narratives. One user commented, "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."
The school was likely occupied at the time of the strike, as Iran's six-day workweek runs from Saturday to Thursday, with Friday as the only official day of rest.
