Deadly Missile Strike on Iranian Girls' School Causes Over 85 Deaths

A missile strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, has killed between 85 and 180 people, mostly girls aged 7 to 12, according to multiple sources including Iran’s Ministry of Health and Middle East Eye. The attack reportedly involved a double-tap tactic, with a second missile targeting survivors who had taken shelter after the initial blast, causing significant additional casualties.

Iranian authorities and several outlets, such as Middle East Eye and France 24, attribute the strike to US-Israeli military forces, although both the United States and Israel deny any involvement. The attack has sparked widespread condemnation, including from activist Malala Yousafzai, who called for the protection of civilians and educational institutions, as reported by Dawn.

The death toll numbers vary across reports, ranging from 85 deaths mentioned by Iran to 180 fatalities cited by Middle East Eye, with nearly 100 people injured in the incident. Eyewitness accounts describe the missile type as similar to those used in previous strikes on locations such as Gandhi Hospital in Tehran, which further fuels the accusations of external military involvement.

Iran is conducting funerals for the victims amid claims that the attack might have been staged, which have been dismissed by international observers and the affected communities. The Minab school was reportedly non-military and had no IRGC barracks nearby for nearly ten years, undercutting any suggestion that the strike targeted a legitimate military objective.

Authorities and global onlookers will be closely monitoring diplomatic responses and potential retaliatory measures following the incident, questions over accountability, and efforts to protect civilian infrastructure in conflict zones, as the death toll and political tensions continue to escalate.