At least 51 students were killed after an Israeli strike hit a girls’ elementary school in Minab, Hormozgan province, according to Iranian state media, as the US-Israel strikes on Iran escalated into a wider regional crisis.
Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that the school in Minab was struck during ongoing military operations linked to joint United States and Israeli attacks on Iranian targets. The reported deaths mark one of the deadliest single incidents since the conflict intensified.
The escalation follows a large-scale US-Israel military campaign targeting Iranian missile, naval and security infrastructure. United States President Donald Trump said the objective of the operation was to dismantle Iran’s missile capabilities and neutralise its naval assets. The Pentagon described the campaign as “massive and ongoing”.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for retaliatory strikes on Israeli and US military targets across the Middle East. Iranian missiles targeted American military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, where US bases are located. Bahrain confirmed a missile strike near the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, while authorities in Abu Dhabi reported one fatality following missile interceptions.
The regional escalation has triggered widespread airspace closures. Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates suspended civilian flights. Major international airlines, including Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways, cancelled services to affected destinations.
The Middle East airspace shutdown has also disrupted international routes, including flights from Dhaka and other South Asian hubs, as airlines reroute aircraft to avoid conflict zones.
Inside Iran, explosions were reported in multiple cities, including Tehran, Kermanshah, Qom, Tabriz, Isfahan, Ilam, Karaj and parts of Lorestan province. In Tehran, strikes were reported near University Street, the Jomhouri area, close to the office compound of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and near facilities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Donald Trump urged Iranian military personnel to surrender, stating that immunity would be granted to those who comply while warning of severe consequences for continued resistance. He acknowledged the possibility of US casualties during the operation.
Regional actors have responded cautiously. Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi paramilitary group, threatened retaliatory action against US bases. Russia called for an immediate halt to hostilities and urged diplomatic resolution. Saudi Arabia condemned Iranian missile strikes on Gulf states, warning of serious consequences for violations of sovereignty. The European Union appealed for restraint to prevent further nuclear escalation. Pakistan criticised the attacks on Iran, while Indonesia indicated readiness to facilitate dialogue between Washington and Tehran.
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning organisation, warned that continued military escalation increases the risk of nuclear proliferation and destabilisation.
The reported deaths of students in Minab have intensified international concern over civilian casualties and humanitarian consequences as the US-Israel conflict with Iran expands beyond initial military targets.
Source: Agencies
