Source NDTV
MINAB, Iran — A devastating missile strike hit a girls’ primary school in southern Iran on Saturday, killing at least 85 people, most of whom were young students. The incident occurred in the city of Minab, located in the Hormozgan province, during a large-scale joint military operation by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets.
According to the Iranian judiciary’s Mizan Online, the death toll at the Shajareh Tayyebeh school rose throughout the day as rescue teams searched the rubble. The victims were reportedly between the ages of seven and 12. Eyewitnesses described a scene of “unimaginable horror,” with the strike occurring in broad daylight while the school was packed with pupils.
Key Details of the Incident
Location: Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school, Minab, Hormozgan Province.
Casualties: 85 confirmed dead; many others injured and trapped under debris.
Context: The strike took place amid “Operation Lion’s Roar,” a joint US-Israeli campaign targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure.
Official Response: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the act as “inhumane” and a “barbaric crime.”
Escalation of Conflict
The strike on the school is part of a broader wave of attacks that have rocked several Iranian cities, including the capital, Tehran. U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have stated the objectives are to degrade Iran’s missile capabilities and prevent the development of nuclear weapons.
“The destroyed building is a primary school for girls… It was bombed in broad daylight, when packed with young pupils. These crimes will not go unanswered.”
— Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Foreign Minister
In retaliation, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) has launched waves of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israeli territory and U.S. military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.
Current Situation
Communication services and internet access across Iran are reportedly facing major disruptions. While the U.S. and Israel maintain that their strikes are “preemptive” and targeted at military assets, the high civilian toll in Minab has sparked immediate international concern and calls for restraint.
