At least 85 people were killed in an airstrike on a girls’ elementary school in the southern Iranian city of Minab, according to claims from officials in Tehran. Regime-affiliated outlets Tasnim and Fars reported that most of the victims were schoolgirls between the ages of seven and 12. The strike reportedly hit Shajareh Tayyebeh school on Saturday morning, the first working day of the week in Iran, when around 170 students were said to be present. A teacher told the London-based outlet Middle East Eye that she had briefly stepped outside before hearing a powerful blast. When she returned, she described seeing devastation inside classrooms and hearing children crying and screaming. Images and videos circulated on Iranian social media appeared to show smoke rising from the damaged building and civilians searching through rubble. However, sources inside Iran cautioned that official figures should be viewed carefully, noting that information is emerging amid intense military conflict and competing narratives.

The reported strike comes as the United States and Israel conduct coordinated military operations targeting Iranian sites, prompting swift retaliation from Tehran. A spokesperson for US Central Command said reports of civilian harm are being reviewed and emphasized that minimizing unintended casualties remains a priority. Iran’s foreign minister condemned the attack and described it as a bombing of a school in broad daylight. Meanwhile, Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on US-linked facilities across the region, including in Bahrain and other Gulf states, escalating fears of a wider conflict. The situation has sparked political divisions in the United States, with some prominent conservative voices criticizing the military action and warning of long-term consequences. As both sides exchange accusations and threats, the human toll—particularly reports involving children—has intensified international concern, while independent verification of events remains ongoing.