US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the military does not have a policy of targeting educational institutions, following reports of a missile strike on an all-girls elementary school in Minab, Iran, which caused over 160 deaths amid the initial attacks by the US and Israel.
The war situation between the US-Israel coalition and Iran has escalated to a critical point after Iranian state media reported a tragic incident last Saturday (28 Feb), stating that an all-girls elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, was hit by an airstrike resulting in more than 160 fatalities, marking the deadliest event since the conflict began.
The incident sent shockwaves worldwide, with UNESCO and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai strongly condemning the attack, emphasizing that under international humanitarian law, deliberately targeting schools, hospitals, or civilian infrastructure constitutes a "war crime."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded to reporters on the matter, stating, "The Department of Defense is currently investigating whether this attack was carried out by our forces, but I can confirm that the US would never intentionally target a school."
He added that if the incident is confirmed, it would be deeply tragic; however, he currently lacks detailed information about the exact cause. Meanwhile, the Pentagon and US Central Command (CENTCOM) have not issued direct statements but said they are "investigating" reports of civilian casualties resulting from military operations.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, commented on Iranian media reports blaming the US and Israel, saying he has seen different reports, including information suggesting that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) itself targeted the school.
The US and Israeli air operations began last Saturday, initially targeting Tehran before expanding following Iranian retaliatory actions.
Tensions peaked further with confirmation of the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over the past weekend, while President Donald Trump indicated that military operations might continue for several more weeks.