Iran Holds Funerals for 32 Children Killed in Minab School Strike

Iran held solemn funerals on Monday for 32 children who were killed in a U.S. airstrike on a school in the southern city of Minab on February 28. The ceremony, attended by family members, local officials and representatives of the Iranian Ministry of Interior, featured a procession through the town’s main square, a moment of silence, and a brief speech by the mayor in which he called the incident a “tragic loss of innocent lives.” The children’s bodies were transported to a nearby cemetery where they were buried with military honors.

The strike, which the United States has said targeted a “terrorist training facility,” struck a primary school that was reportedly used by militants to train recruits. Iranian officials have repeatedly condemned the attack, describing it as a violation of international law and a deliberate assault on civilians. The Iranian government has called for an independent investigation and has urged the international community to hold the United States accountable for the deaths of the children. The incident has intensified tensions between Tehran and Washington, with Iran demanding that the U.S. withdraw its forces from the region.

The funerals underscore the human cost of the ongoing conflict and highlight the broader geopolitical stakes in the Persian Gulf. As Iran continues to call for international scrutiny of U.S. military actions, the loss of the 32 children remains a stark reminder of the civilian casualties that can arise from targeted strikes. The event has prompted renewed calls for diplomatic engagement to prevent further tragedies in the region.