The United Nations human rights chief expressed deep alarm after a deadly strike on an elementary school in Minab, Iran, calling for justice and accountability. The attack, which reportedly killed 168 pupils, teachers, staff, and family members, was described as evoking visceral horror and underscoring the devastating toll of war on civilians.

According to preliminary findings cited in media reports, a United States Tomahawk cruise missile struck the school due to a targeting error on the first day of the Middle East war. The human rights chief stressed that those responsible for carrying out the attack must conduct a prompt, impartial, transparent, and thorough investigation, and urged that the findings be made public as soon as possible.

The debate at the United Nations Human Rights Council was convened at the request of Iran, China, and Cuba, marking the second urgent session that week focused on the regional conflict. While a previous session resulted in a resolution condemning Iran's attacks on Gulf neighbors, no draft resolution was introduced during the discussion of the school strike.