The United Nations Human Rights Council has urged the United States to complete its investigation into a deadly strike on a girls’ school in Minab, Iran. The attack killed more than 170 people, mostly schoolchildren and teachers, during the early days of the US-Israel conflict. The council convened an emergency session after Iran called the strike “deliberate” and demanded accountability.
Several countries condemned the killings as unacceptable, demanding clarity on how the school was targeted. Pakistan’s envoy called the deaths of children “unconscionable,” while China expressed deep shock. Notably, US and Israeli representatives did not attend the session, reflecting disengagement from the council.
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UN Special Rapporteur Farida Shaheed questioned the possibility of misidentification, noting that the school was clearly separate from nearby military infrastructure. Open-source investigations indicated the school’s location was well-marked, and she emphasized the US military had both the tools and obligation to verify targets.
During the session, Mohaddeseh Fallahat, a grieving mother, shared her personal loss, recounting her last morning with her children before the missile strike. Her testimony highlighted the human toll of the attack and intensified calls for transparency and accountability.
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Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected claims of error, calling the strike intentional and accusing the US and Israel of committing “humanitarian crimes with impunity.” UN investigators noted precision munitions were used, suggesting deliberate targeting rather than accidental damage, raising urgent questions about civilian protection during conflicts.