Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has announced that he will use his address at the General Assembly to bring attention to the tragic deaths of dozens of children in a strike on an elementary school in southern Iran at the start of the US-Iran war. The strike, which occurred on February 28, targeted the Shajareh Tayyiba school in Minab, southern Iran, while the US military was attacking a neighboring Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facility.
According to Iranian officials, at least 156 people, including 120 children and 26 teachers, were killed in the strike. This incident is considered one of the worst civilian casualty incidents in recent US military history. The US military's actions have been widely criticized, with many questioning the accuracy of the target coordinates used in the strike.
An internal investigation by US Central Command found that outdated information provided by the Defense Intelligence Agency contributed to the mistake. The investigation revealed that the target coordinates for the strike were created using this outdated information. US President Donald Trump initially suggested that Iran might be responsible for the strike, but later backtracked, citing a lack of knowledge about the incident.
The Pentagon's internal investigation has stalled, with sources familiar with the matter indicating that the stage where Defense Intelligence Agency analysts review satellite imagery and other intelligence sources has not yet been ordered. This delay has raised concerns about accountability and transparency in the investigation.
A United Nations fact-finding mission has concluded that the strike may have been a war crime. The findings, which are yet to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council, could potentially be used by international courts like the International Criminal Court. The UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission has conducted a thorough investigation into the incident.
The Iranian President's address at the General Assembly is expected to draw attention to the incident and raise questions about US accountability. The incident has had a lasting impact on the families of the victims and the wider community. President Pezeshkian's speech is likely to spark a renewed debate about the incident and its implications.
The incident serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of military actions on civilians. The international community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the strike, and the UN's findings have added to the pressure on the US to take responsibility for its actions.
Key points
- The US strike on the Shajareh Tayyiba school in Minab, southern Iran, resulted in the deaths of at least 156 people, including 120 children and 26 teachers.
- The strike was considered one of the worst civilian casualty incidents in recent US military history.
- A UN fact-finding mission concluded that the strike may have been a war crime.
