Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian Primary School, Killing Five Girls and Injuring Dozens
In a devastating escalation of regional hostilities, at least five young girls were killed and dozens more injured when an Israeli airstrike struck a primary school in southern Iran. The attack targeted Minab Girl's Primary School in Hormozgan province, according to local officials who attributed the assault to Israeli forces.
Conflicting Casualty Reports Emerge from Attack Site
While local authorities confirmed five student fatalities at the educational institution, Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported a significantly higher death toll exceeding forty individuals. The official news outlet further claimed that forty-five additional people sustained injuries during the bombardment, though specific details regarding the nature and severity of these wounds remain undisclosed.
The Minab area is believed to host facilities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the powerful military organization central to Iran's security apparatus. This connection potentially explains why the location became a target during the ongoing military operations.
Operation Roaring Lion: Coordinated Military Campaign
The Israel Defense Forces acknowledged conducting strikes on multiple targets in western Iran as part of Operation Roaring Lion, a joint military campaign with United States forces. An Israeli official revealed that this extensive operation had been meticulously planned for several months and was designed to surpass previous strikes conducted against Iranian nuclear facilities last year.
The school attack occurred mere hours after former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to the IRGC, demanding they surrender their weapons or "face certain death." In his address, Trump threatened to "raze" Iran's military installations and called upon Iranian citizens to remove Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's government from power.
Capital City Descends into Chaos Amid Strikes
In Tehran, highways became completely gridlocked as thousands of residents attempted to flee the capital following reports of incoming strikes. Witnesses described extensive queues forming at gasoline stations and automated teller machines, while circulating images depicted charred vehicles and debris scattered across urban thoroughfares.
Many citizens expressed profound anxiety about potential internet blackouts that could sever communication with family members abroad. Maryam, a fifty-four-year-old Tehran housewife, told Reuters she was evacuating the city with her family, stating, "We are being killed by the regime and by Israel. We are the victims of this regime's hostile policies."
Regional Impact Extends Beyond Iranian Borders
The military escalation has not remained confined to Iranian territory. Additional airstrikes have been reported in neighboring nations, including an attack on a United States air base in Bahrain. Explosions reverberated across the United Arab Emirates, affecting both Abu Dhabi and Dubai and prompting temporary flight suspensions from both major cities.
Doha Airport in Qatar, a crucial regional travel hub, also experienced operational disruptions as airlines responded to mounting instability throughout the Persian Gulf region. Satellite imagery analyzed by the New York Times appeared to show substantial destruction at a compound in Tehran believed to be Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's residence, though reports indicate he had been relocated to a secure location prior to the strikes.
Officials have confirmed that several senior Revolutionary Guard commanders and political figures have perished during this broader wave of attacks. The international community watches with growing concern as this dangerous escalation threatens to destabilize the entire Middle Eastern region.
