Investigation Launched into Deadly Strike on Girls' School in Iran
The US Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, provided limited information and was vague when questioned about the recent deadly strike on a girls' school in Iran, stating that the US was currently investigating the incident. Iranian officials reported that the attack, which occurred on Saturday, resulted in the deaths of at least 165 students. Hegseth mentioned that the US does not target civilian sites but is looking into the bombing of the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' school in Minab.
The school was hit on the first day of US and Israeli attacks on Iran, leading to numerous casualties and injuries. Iranian state media disclosed that 96 individuals were wounded, with many being students attending classes at the Shajarah Tayyebeh school in the town. The United Nations human rights office urged the parties responsible for the deadly attack on the girls' school in Iran to conduct an investigation and share information about the incident, without specifying the perpetrators.
Iran's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, condemned the attack as "unjustifiable" and "criminal" in a letter to the UN human rights chief. The UN committee on the rights of the child expressed concern over reports of strikes on civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, causing harm to children and claiming young lives. The committee emphasized the need to protect children from the impacts of war.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that US forces would not intentionally target a school. Mourners gathered in Minab for the funeral of those killed in the airstrike on the girls' elementary school. The conflict in the Middle East has resulted in over 800 casualties since the US and Israel initiated attacks on Iran, leading to retaliatory actions from Iran against multiple countries in the region. The US military reported a significant number of strikes in the first 24 hours of the war on Iran, surpassing the "shock-and-awe" strikes on Iraq in 2003, with nearly 2,000 targets hit thus far.
In conclusion, the recent deadly strike on a girls' school in Iran has raised concerns and prompted calls for investigations and accountability from international bodies. The tragic incident underscores the importance of protecting civilian infrastructure and ensuring the safety of children during times of conflict.