At least 85 people, mostly schoolgirls, were killed after an Israeli airstrike hit a girls’ primary school in Minab, southern Iran, on Saturday, according to Iranian officials.
The Shajareye Tayabeh all-girls elementary school in Hormozgan province was reportedly struck while classes were in session, with dozens of children and teachers present. Local emergency teams continue to search through the rubble, and officials warned that the death toll could rise further. At least 63 others were injured.
Iranian authorities condemned the attack, accusing Israel of deliberately targeting civilians and vowing to hold those responsible accountable. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared images from the scene on social media, calling the strike a tragedy.
Minab, near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, was among several locations targeted amid a broader wave of U.S.–Israeli military actions against Iran, which has included air raids, missile launches, and heightened regional tensions.
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, strongly condemned the ongoing escalation, warning that continued hostilities risk triggering a wider regional conflict with severe consequences for global peace and civilian safety.
In a statement posted on X, Guterres called on all parties to halt military actions and return to diplomacy. “The use of force against Iran and subsequent retaliation undermines international peace and security,” he said. He emphasized that all member states must respect international law, including the UN Charter, which prohibits threats or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
Guterres warned that ongoing exchanges could destabilize an already fragile region and place millions of civilians at risk. “I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation. Failing to do so risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability,” he said.
The UN chief reiterated that diplomatic engagement remains the only sustainable path to resolving international disputes.
