In brief
The UN's human rights chief, Volker Türk, has called on the United States to finalize its investigation regarding a missile strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab, Iran, which killed 168 people, including approximately 110 children. The attack has raised concerns about accountability and justice, with US military investigators reportedly believing that American forces may have accidentally targeted the school. Calls for transparency about the investigation have come amid alarming images of the aftermath of the attack, which reflect the considerable civilian toll of such conflict.
The UN's human rights chief has urged the US to conclude its investigation and publish its findings into a deadly strike on an Iranian primary school that happened on the first day of war last month.
The bombing evoked a visceral horror, Volker Türk said at an urgent debate in the UN Human Rights Council, emphasizing that there must be justice for the terrible harm done.
The attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh school consisted of two missile strikes in quick succession, killing at least 168 people, including around 110 children, according to Iranian officials.
US media reports indicate that military investigators believe American forces were likely responsible for the strike, albeit unintentionally.
The Pentagon has stated that they are looking into the incident, with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth affirming that any culpability in targeting civilians would be thoroughly investigated.
If confirmed, this incident could represent one of the worst cases of civilian casualties tied to US military action in the years of conflict within the Middle East.
Türk emphasized the humanitarian cost of war, stating, The images of bombed-out classrooms and grieving parents clearly showed who pays the most for war: civilians without any power in the decisions that led to conflict. He called for a prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation into the attack.
Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, condemned the strike as a deliberate and intentional attack. He asserted that the bombing was a part of a broader pattern of aggression and must be met with accountability.
This incident has led to multiple inquiries regarding the efficacy and accuracy of the intelligence used for targeting, raising questions on whether outdated data could have contributed to the targeting of innocents.
