Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Mar 7: International pressure is mounting to determine responsibility for a devastating airstrike that hit an elementary school in southern Iran, killing more than 170 people, many of them children, nearly a week after the tragedy occurred.

The strike hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh boys and girls school in the town of Minab during the opening phase of a large-scale bombing campaign launched by the United States and Israel against Iranian military targets. According to U.S. officials who briefed members of Congress in a closed-door meeting, the United States had been targeting areas around Minab at the time, but officials said Israel was not responsible for the school strike.

While Washington has not formally accepted responsibility, preliminary findings from the administration of Donald Trump suggest it is increasingly likely that a U.S. munition was involved.

Officials said investigations are underway to determine whether the strike resulted from faulty intelligence or a targeting error. No alternative explanation has yet been presented to lawmakers.

The tragedy has drawn strong concern from the international community. Volker Türk called for a swift investigation and accountability for those responsible, stressing the need for justice and redress for victims and their families.

Satellite images taken before and after the attack show extensive damage to the school and several nearby buildings within the compound. Witnesses and local officials said the site had once been used as a base by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps but had reportedly been converted to civilian use around 15 years ago. The school itself opened in 2015 and operated alongside facilities such as a clinic, supermarket and community centre.

Senior U.S. military officials acknowledged that American forces had conducted strikes across southern Iran during the opening hours of the operation. Dan Caine said the region around Minab was among areas targeted, while Israeli forces were primarily operating further north.

Pete Hegseth said the incident remains under investigation and emphasised that U.S. forces do not deliberately target civilian locations. Marco Rubio also stated that American forces would not intentionally strike a school.

Iranian officials have strongly rejected any suggestion of internal involvement. Abbas Araghchi said it was “clear” that American missiles had struck the school, although he did not present evidence to support the claim.

Experts analysing satellite imagery said the damage pattern suggested the use of highly accurate guided munitions targeting multiple buildings within the compound, though they cautioned that without knowing the intended target it remains difficult to determine whether the school itself was deliberately struck.

Witnesses described horrific scenes after the attack, with rescuers pulling injured children and bodies from the rubble. Local residents and first responders said many victims were trapped beneath collapsed structures when the explosions hit the compound during the morning hours.