Deadly Airstrikes in Iran: Girls’ School Hit, 40 Dead and Dozens Injured

A quiet city in southern Iran turned into a scene of chaos and heartbreak on Saturday, as a coordinated US-Israel strike devastated a girls' school in Minab, Hormozgan province. At least 40 students were killed and 45 injured, as classrooms collapsed and rescue teams struggled through mountains of debris. Videos from the scene show dust-filled air, shattered walls, and frantic efforts to save the trapped, painting a grim picture of the assault's toll on innocent lives.

Minab is more than just a city of schools and homes; it hosts a base of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, making it a strategic target. The operation, part of a wider campaign named "Operation Epic Fury" by the US and "Operation Roaring Lion" by Israel, also hit multiple political and defense sites across the country. Reports indicate missiles were fired at the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, highlighting the unprecedented scale of the strikes.

In Tehran and other cities, residents were shaken by loud explosions and plumes of smoke rising into the sky. Iranian officials confirmed that Khamenei survived the attack and was moved to a secure location, while emergency crews scrambled to handle casualties across the country.

The strikes triggered an immediate Iranian response. Missiles and drones targeted US bases across the Gulf, including in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE, while Jordan reported intercepting incoming projectiles. Airspace closures and disrupted flights added to the region's mounting tension.

Political rhetoric intensified as leaders weighed in. US President Donald Trump warned Iran of severe consequences if it did not abandon its nuclear ambitions, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the attacks as a necessary strike against an "existential threat."

The tragedy at the Minab girls' school, combined with rapid retaliation and regional upheaval, has plunged the Middle East into heightened crisis. With casualties rising, air travel in disarray, and diplomacy hanging by a thread, the world watches closely as the next round of nuclear talks in Vienna approaches - uncertain whether peace can withstand the shadow of war.