Iran Reports 165 Dead in Alleged School Strike as Israel Denies Role
Iranian state media announced on Sunday that the death toll from an alleged strike on a girls' school in southern Iran has surged to 165, with dozens more injured. This dramatic escalation in reported casualties comes amid conflicting claims, as Israel stated it was unaware of any such attack and the United States confirmed it is investigating the incident.
Escalating Casualty Figures and Conflicting Accounts
The state-run IRNA news agency cited a local prosecutor, reporting that 96 people were wounded in the strike. Earlier, the Iranian Red Crescent had revised the toll upward to 108 fatalities, a significant increase from an initial estimate of five provided by a provincial official. The reported incident is said to have occurred in the town of Minab in Hormozgan province, located near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route.
Iranian authorities attributed the strikes to their enemies, with a provincial official specifically blaming Israeli actions on a school in Hormozgan. A county governor identified the site as the Shajare Tayyebeh girls' elementary school. "The number of student martyrs at Minab School has reached 108, and relief and debris removal operations are still ongoing," a spokesperson for the Iranian Red Crescent stated earlier.
International Responses and Denials
In contrast, Israel's military firmly denied any involvement. Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told reporters, "At this point not aware of an Israeli or an American strike there... We're operating in an extremely accurate manner." The United States also refrained from confirming the incident. AFP reported that US Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment, though a CENTCOM spokesperson was quoted by The New York Times as saying, "We are aware of reports concerning civilian harm resulting from ongoing military operations. We take these reports seriously and are looking into them."
The spokesperson added, "The protection of civilians is of utmost importance, and we will continue to take all precautions available to minimise the risk of unintended harm." The Pentagon similarly did not provide an immediate comment, highlighting the ongoing uncertainty.
Verified Footage and Limited Access
AFP reported that it had geolocated video footage showing black smoke billowing from a damaged building decorated with murals of crayons, children, and an apple. The clip was traced to a building in Minab that appeared to be a school. A second video, verified by outlets including The New York Times, showed a similarly damaged structure from a different angle, with distressed bystanders gathered nearby. Iranian state television identified the site as the Shajare Tayyebeh girls' elementary school in Minab.
However, AFP noted it could not independently verify the date the footage was filmed, the exact nature of the site, or the circumstances surrounding the reported strike. The agency also highlighted that foreign media organisations require explicit approval from Iranian authorities to report outside Tehran, severely limiting independent access and verification efforts.
Rights Group Investigation and Broader Context
Norway-based rights group Hengaw announced it is investigating the identities of the students allegedly killed in the strike. In a statement, the organisation said the school was holding its morning session at the time of the incident, with about 170 students reportedly present. The widening discrepancy between Iran's casualty figures and the absence of confirmation from Israel and the United States has added to the uncertainty surrounding the event.
As tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States escalate following recent military exchanges, the alleged strike on the school, if confirmed, would mark one of the deadliest single incidents involving civilians in the current confrontation. Independent verification of the toll and responsibility remains pending, with the situation underscoring the challenges of reporting in conflict zones with restricted media access.
