Iran Mourns School Attack Victims Amid Accusations Against US and Israel

Iran held a mass funeral for 165 schoolgirls and staff who were killed in a bombing at a girls' school in Minab, an incident Iran attributes to a joint attack by the United States and Israel. The Israeli military has denied any involvement, stating it was unaware of attacks in the area. This denial follows a pattern observed during Israel's military operations in Gaza, where initial denials of civilian casualties were later retracted.

Thousands of mourners gathered in Minab, waving flags and chanting slogans against the US and Israel. A woman, identified as the mother of one of the victims, addressed the crowd, condemning the attack and holding up images she described as evidence of American crimes. The crowd responded with chants of "Death to America" and "Death to Israel."

The attack occurred after the US and Israel announced joint military operations against Iran, marking a significant escalation in their ongoing conflict. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US and Israel of targeting civilians, sharing images of graves for the victims and criticizing former US President Donald Trump's policies.

The Iranian government has called for international intervention, highlighting the impact of the strikes on civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and schools. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the US and Israel of indiscriminately targeting residential areas and cultural sites.

The United States has denied deliberately targeting the school. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US would investigate the incident if it were responsible, emphasizing that the US does not intentionally target civilian structures. The US Central Command is reportedly examining reports of civilian casualties from ongoing military operations.

The attack has drawn international condemnation, including from UNESCO and education activist Malala Yousafzai, who highlighted the attack on an educational institution as a potential war crime under international law. UN officials, including Rosemary DiCarlo, have acknowledged the reports and noted that US authorities are investigating the claims.