Conflicting reports have emerged regarding a deadly missile strike on a girls’ primary school in southern Iran, which Iranian state media claims killed over 160 people, while U.S. officials deny intentional targeting and an Israeli envoy points to Iranian forces.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio confirmed the U.S. military has no policy of targeting educational institutions. He stated the “War Department” is investigating if the strike originated from U.S. forces.
“The War Department is investigating whether it was an attack from our side, but I can confirm that the U.S. will never intentionally target schools,” Rubio reportedly said. He added that if the incident occurred, it would be “deeply tragic,” but he lacked specific details.
The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) have not directly addressed the school strike. They stated they are investigating reports of civilian casualties from ongoing military operations.
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, offered a contrasting account. He suggested reports indicated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) might have been responsible for targeting the school.
Iranian state media reported the strike on the all-girls primary school in Minab, a city in southern Iran, on Saturday, February 28. The report claimed more than 160 people died in the incident.
This death toll would make it the highest casualty event since the start of the escalating conflict.
UNESCO and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai condemned the attack. They highlighted that intentionally targeting educational institutions or civilian infrastructure is considered a war crime under international humanitarian law.
The alleged strike occurred amid a critical escalation in conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
U.S. and Israeli air operations began last Saturday. Initial targets included Tehran, expanding after reported Iranian retaliation.