In brief
The UN's human rights chief, Volker Türk, has called on the US to finalize and publicize its investigation into a devastating missile strike that hit Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Iran, resulting in the deaths of 168 individuals, mostly children. The attack was reportedly linked to US military actions, with suggestions of targeting errors. Officials argue for justice for the innocent victims, emphasizing the necessity for a thorough inquiry. Iranian officials have condemned the strike as a 'deliberate and intentional' act.
The UN's human rights chief has urged the US to conclude its investigation and publish its findings regarding a deadly strike on an Iranian primary school that occurred on the first day of the war last month.
The bombing 'evoked a visceral horror,' according to Volker Türk, who spoke during an urgent debate at the UN Human Rights Council, demanding justice for the appalling damage inflicted.
The attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh school featured two missile strikes in quick succession, which resulted in the deaths of at least 168 people, including approximately 110 children, per Iranian officials' accounts.
Reports from US media indicate that American military investigators suspect that US forces may have mistakenly struck the school.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has previously stated that the situation is under investigation.
If confirmed, the strike would represent one of the most significant civilian casualty incidents involving US military actions in the Middle East.
Türk emphasized that the onus is on those responsible for the attack to conduct an investigation promptly, fairly, transparently, and comprehensively.
In a parallel statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the bombing as a 'deliberate and intentional' attack by the US, asserting that it was an atrocity that could not be excused or ignored.
The UN's call for accountability comes as Democrats in the US Senate have pressed Defence Secretary Hegseth for detailed answers concerning the strike, including whether the US was indeed responsible for the attack.
Investigations continue into how a school, previously assessed as part of an adjacent military base operated by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), could have become a target. Analysts have raised concerns about potential inaccuracies in target data resulting in this tragic incident.
Images from the site show the extent of destruction, with bombed-out classrooms serving as a stark reminder of the true cost of conflict—civilians who bear the heaviest repercussions.
