Minab School Strike: Iran Blames U.S., Israel for Deadly Attack

Iranian authorities said an airstrike hit a girls’ elementary school in the southern city of Minab, killing more than 170 people, most of them young students. Officials blamed the United States and Israel for what they described as the deadliest civilian attack since the conflict began.

The explosion reportedly struck the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school on Saturday, the first day of the war. Iranian health officials stated that many of the victims were girls between the ages of 7 and 12. State media aired footage showing heavy smoke rising from a damaged building decorated with children’s murals.

Minab School Strike kills over 170, investigation underway

CBS News geolocated the building in Minab and confirmed that it stands near two facilities operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including the Seyyed Al-Shohada Barracks. Reports also said the Shahid Absalan clinic, supervised by the IRGC Navy’s medical command, lies about 780 feet from the school.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the attack, calling it a violation of humanitarian principles. He accused U.S.-Israeli forces of targeting children and civilians and vowed that Iran would not remain silent. Authorities held mass funerals in Minab, where mourners gathered around coffins draped in Iranian flags. Officials reported preparing more than 100 graves for the victims.

However, neither the U.S. nor Israel accepted responsibility. Israeli military spokesman Nadav Shoshani said the Israeli Defense Forces found no link between their operations and the reported strike. He urged caution when relying on information released by Iranian authorities.

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Pentagon is investigating the incident. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States does not deliberately target schools and focuses its operations on military missile capabilities.

International journalists have not independently verified the casualty figures or the circumstances of the strike, as Iranian authorities require special approval for reporting outside Tehran.

Meanwhile, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called for a prompt, impartial investigation. Rights group Hengaw suggested that nearby IRGC facilities may have been the intended targets and warned that placing military sites near schools increases civilian risk.

Minab lies near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route for oil and gas, raising concerns about further escalation in the region.

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