At least 85 people, mostly schoolgirls, were killed on Saturday after an Israeli airstrike hit the Shajareye Tayabeh all-girls elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, officials confirmed. The strike occurred amid intensified military operations by Israel and the United States targeting Iranian positions.
Rescue teams in Hormozgan province continue to search through rubble, with authorities warning that the casualty figures may rise. At least 63 others were injured in the attack, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
Iranian officials condemned the strike, accusing Israel of deliberately targeting civilians. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared images from the scene on social media, calling the attack a tragedy and vowing accountability for those responsible. Minab, located near the Strait of Hormuz, has strategic significance and was among multiple locations targeted during the ongoing conflict between Iranian forces and U.S./Israeli military assets.
The airstrike drew immediate international attention. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the military 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 his official X account, Guterres called on all parties to halt military actions and return to diplomacy. “The use of force by the United States & Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region, undermines international peace & security,” he said, emphasizing that all nations must comply with international law under the UN Charter.
He warned that ongoing military exchanges could quickly escalate beyond current battle lines, destabilizing the region and putting millions of civilians at risk. “I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities & de-escalation. Failing to do so risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians & regional stability,” Guterres stated.
The Secretary-General reiterated that diplomatic engagement remains the only sustainable path to resolving international disputes, stressing that all parties should return immediately to negotiations to prevent further escalation.
This attack marks a significant escalation in the Middle East, raising fears of broader regional conflict and prompting global calls for restraint and urgent diplomatic intervention.