Funerals took place for students and staff killed in what Iranian authorities claim was a US-Israeli strike on a girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran. Officials said the attack on Saturday killed more than 160 people, though this death toll has not been independently verified.
School hit near military base
The school was located approximately 600 metres from an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) base. Iranian authorities reported that three missiles struck the building on Saturday morning, during Iran’s six-day working week when schools are occupied.
BBC footage shows smoke rising from the site and crowds gathering nearby, with some people panicking. Rescue workers and locals were seen searching through the rubble for survivors.
Official reactions
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the attack as a “barbaric act” and “another black page in the record of countless crimes committed by the aggressors.” Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted images on social media showing graves for the victims, adding: “This is how ‘rescue’ promised by Mr Trump looks in reality.”
US and Israeli statements
The US military said it is investigating reports of the strike, with Centcom spokesman Tim Hawkins stating that civilian protection remains a priority.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the BBC that the US “would not deliberately target a school” and has “no interest or incentive to target civilian infrastructure.” Israel’s military said it was “not aware” of operations in the area.
Mourning in Minab
Hundreds of mourners filled the streets for the funerals, with coffins draped in the Iranian flag carried through the crowds. A voiceover broadcast on Iranian state TV recounted the grief of parents who had lost their daughters.
Also read: US identifies first soldiers killed in Iran conflict
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