WASHINGTON: Human Rights Watch (HRW) has condemned a February 28 attack on a primary school in southern Iran’s Minab, calling it an unlawful strike that reportedly killed scores of civilians, including schoolchildren.
The rights watchdog has demanded a prompt and thorough investigation into the incident, stressing that those responsible should be held accountable for possible war crimes.
In its assessment released the other day, HRW said the strike bore the hallmarks of precision-guided munitions rather than errant weaponry. “The pattern of strikes in which distinct structures across the compound, including the school, were directly struck, as well as the entry points of the munitions visible on multiple buildings, indicate that the attack was carried out by highly accurate, guided munitions,” the organisation noted.
President Donald Trump on Saturday denied U.S. involvement in a strike that killed more than 165 people at a girls’ elementary school in Southern Iran, instead placing the blame on Iran.
When asked aboard Air Force One Saturday whether the U.S. conducted the Feb. 28 strike, Trump said, without evidence, “No, in my opinion, based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran.”
However, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, standing next to the president, took a more cautious tone, saying the government is still “investigating” the attack but adding, “The only side that targets civilians is Iran.” Following Hegseth’s statement, Trump asserted: “It was done by Iran.”
Sophia Jones, open source researcher with HRW’s Digital Investigations Lab, said the timing of the attack — before midday, when classrooms were full of children and teachers — raised grave concerns. “A prompt and thorough investigation is needed into this attack, including if those responsible should have known that a school was there and that it would be full of children and their teachers before midday,” she said.
HRW reminded parties to the conflict that the laws of war prohibit attacks if the anticipated harm to civilians and civilian objects is disproportionate compared to the expected military gain. “Those responsible for an unlawful attack should be held to account, including prosecutions of anyone responsible for war crimes,” the group added.
The strike has intensified international scrutiny of military operations in the region, with rights groups warning that civilian infrastructure, particularly schools, must never be targeted.
