UNESCO, UN condemn Minab school strike as Iran buries 165

MINAB, Iran

The United Nations cultural agency UNESCO and UN human rights officials have condemned the deadly strike on a girls’ school in the southern Iranian city of Minab, calling for accountability and the protection of civilians and educational institutions during armed conflict.

In a statement, UNESCO described the attack on the school as a grave violation of international humanitarian law, stressing that schools are protected spaces under global norms and must never be targeted.

The agency warned that attacks on education endanger children’s lives and undermine the fundamental right to learning.

UN human rights officials also called for a prompt, independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances of the strike.

They are urging all parties to respect international law and ensure civilian protection.

The condemnation came as Iran held a large funeral procession for 165 schoolgirls and school staff killed on Saturday when the school was struck in Minab.

Crowds gathered in the city to mourn the victims, many of them young students, in one of the deadliest reported incidents involving children in recent months.

Iranian authorities blamed a U.S.–Israeli strike for the attack.

During the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israel has repeatedly rejected responsibility for deadly incidents involving Palestinian civilians, at times later revising its position when evidence surfaced and describing some strikes as accidental.

Independent verification of the casualty figures and the exact circumstances of the Minab strike remains limited.

International observers say the incident shows growing global concern over the protection of civilians — particularly children — in conflict zones.