A devastating airstrike targeted an elementary school in southern Iran on Saturday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least 51 female students and injuring 60 others, according to local authorities. The assault struck Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab city, located within Hormozgan province, where victims ranged between seven and twelve years of age.
The attack trapped numerous individuals beneath collapsed structures, with emergency responders and local civilians conducting frantic rescue operations through the debris. Visual evidence from Telegram channels associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp depicted scenes of chaos—smoke billowing from adjacent buildings, a destroyed vehicle on the street, and distraught residents reacting in anguish and disbelief.
This incident occurred amidst a significant escalation of military operations by the United States and Israel against multiple Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, the holy city of Qom, Karaj, Isfahan, and Kermanshah. Explosions reverberated across Tehran during morning commute hours, signaling the broadening scope of the offensive.
While Iranian media has not released a comprehensive casualty count, Reuters reported that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been relocated to a secure location as a precautionary measure.
U.S. President Donald Trump characterized the joint military campaign as a defensive measure aimed at ‘eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.’ In an official statement, Trump asserted that the operation sought to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, neutralize its naval capabilities, and counter regional proxy groups allegedly supported by Tehran. The administration did not immediately provide substantiating evidence for these claims.