Tehran: Reports from Iran say dozens of schoolgirls were killed after a girls’ school in the southern city of Minab was struck during air attacks amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
Iranian authorities and state media reported that about 40 students died in the strike. Some international reports, citing local officials and medical sources, suggest the death toll could be higher, with more than 50 students feared killed and many others injured. Around 170 students were believed to be inside the school when the explosion occurred.
The school is located in Hormozgan province near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, an area of major military and shipping importance. Emergency teams were sent to the site, and hospitals in the region have been treating the injured. Rescue efforts continued as families gathered near the scene in search of missing children.
The incident took place during a wave of large scale air strikes targeting Iranian military and strategic locations. Iranian officials condemned the attack and vowed retaliation, calling it a serious escalation.
Soon after the strikes, Iran launched missiles and drones toward Israeli territory and United States military bases in the Gulf region, raising fears of a wider regional conflict. Explosions were reported in several areas, and airspace disruptions affected flights across the Middle East.
Independent verification of the school strike remains difficult because of restricted access to the area and the ongoing conflict. Casualty figures may change as rescue operations continue and more information becomes available.
The reported deaths of students have drawn concern internationally, with growing calls for restraint and protection of civilians as tensions continue to rise in the region.