Iran blames US, Israel after 153‑person school strike
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- Iranian officials reported at least 153 dead, including children, after a missile strike hit a girls' school in Minab, Hormozgan province.
- Iran blamed the United States and Israel for the attack, while the U.S. Central Command said it was investigating and Israel's military said it was not aware of any IDF operations in the area.
- The school was located about 600 m from an IRGC base that has previously been targeted, and the Iranian Red Crescent said 201 people have been killed and 747 injured in air strikes across Iran since Saturday.
- President Masoud Pezeshkian called the incident a "barbaric act" and "another black page" in the record of crimes by the aggressors.
- Centcom spokesman Tim Hawkins said the U.S. takes the reports seriously, emphasizing civilian protection and precautionary measures.
- Iranian social media users expressed anger and blamed the regime, noting lack of warning, shelters, and communication.
- The article claimed that attacks continued on Sunday, following the killing in an air strike of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and many senior commanders.
Why it matters: The high death toll intensifies Tehran's accusations against Washington and Jerusalem, potentially hardening Iran's stance and complicating diplomatic efforts while highlighting civilian vulnerability amid the broader wave of regional air strikes, and may fuel domestic anger toward both the foreign adversaries and the Iranian regime.
