United States Responsible for Deadly Attack on Iranian School, Amnesty Says

Amnesty International has concluded that the United States was responsible for a deadly attack on a girls' school in Minab, Iran that killed at least 170 people, most of them children.

“The United States is responsible for an attack on an Iranian primary school that killed at least 170 people, most of them children, Amnesty International has said in a new investigation, urging accountability for the assault”

Al Jazeera

The rights group found that a US-manufactured Tomahawk missile was likely used in the February 28 attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' elementary school.

Al Jazeera

The school was directly struck alongside 12 other structures in an adjacent Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) compound.

This attack has been described as evidence of potential war crimes being committed by the US and Israel in their war on Iran.

Legal experts say the war on Iran was launched in violation of international law.

The school, located in the Shahrak-e Al-Mahdi neighbourhood of Minab, has a complex history that raises serious questions about US targeting procedures.

According to Amnesty International's investigation, the school building previously served as the command headquarters of the IRGC compound before being converted into a school several years ago.

Amnesty International

Satellite imagery analysis dating back to 2013 shows that the school was originally located within the perimeter of the IRGC compound but was later walled off.

By 2016, satellite images indicate that the school premises had been physically separated from the IRGC compound through the construction of boundary walls and three separate gated entrances.

The grounds and walls were painted to resemble other schools in the area.

Multiple lines of evidence point directly to US responsibility for the attack.

“SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox”

Common Dreams

Satellite and video analysis confirmed that the strike was a 'triple-tap' airstrike, in which an initial bombing was followed up with two additional strikes meant to kill survivors and rescue workers.

Fragments of a Tomahawk cruise missile found at the school were marked with the names of US weapons companies, a Pentagon contract number, and 'Made in USA,' providing definitive proof of US involvement.

Amnesty International noted that 'Tomahawk missiles are used exclusively by US forces in this conflict and are precision-guided missiles,'

Satellite imagery from 10:23am local time on February 28 indicated that the school and IRGC compound were still standing without visible damage.

The attack constitutes a serious breach of international humanitarian law, according to Amnesty International and other human rights organizations.

The rights group concluded that 'this points to a failure by US forces to take feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm in carrying out the attack, which is a serious breach of international humanitarian law.'

Al Jazeera

Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International's senior director, stated that 'targeting a protected civilian object, such as a school, is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law.'

The organization has called for an impartial, independent, and transparent investigation into the strike.

This call has been echoed by the United Nations Human Rights Office, Human Rights Watch, and Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor.

The Minab school attack has become a focal point of growing international concern about civilian casualties in the US-Israel war on Iran.

“- In-depth investigation finds US violated international humanitarian law by failing to take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm - US responsible for deadly attack on school packed full of children killing 168 people - US authorities must ensure that the investigation is transparent, thorough, and that the results are made public”

Amnesty International

Iranian authorities reported that 168 people were killed in the attack, including at least 110 school children (66 boys and 54 girls), as well as 26 teachers and four parents.

Amnesty International

Amnesty International noted that 'due to the ongoing internet blackout and no access to the country to inspect the site and interview affected people, Amnesty International is unable to independently corroborate the number of people killed.'

The attack has drawn condemnation from US Democratic lawmakers who have urged the Trump administration to 'provide clear answers to the American public and Congress about how and why this tragedy unfolded.'

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's comments suggesting Washington would not abide by 'stupid rules of engagement' in its military offensive against Iran have raised additional alarm.