#JUSTIN: More Than 20 Iranian Provinces Affected; 53 Students Killed in School Strike
Iran says over 20 provinces affected in strikes; 53 students killed in Minab school attack.
More than 20 of Iran’s 31 provinces have reportedly been affected by strikes launched on Saturday, according to the country’s Red Crescent Society. Spokesman Mojtaba Khaledi told state media that the attacks have caused widespread damage across the nation, underscoring the scale of the ongoing military escalation in the region.
One of the deadliest incidents occurred in Minab, a city in southern Iran’s Hormozgan province, where a girls’ elementary school was struck. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attack, describing the victims as “innocent children” and warning that the strike “will not go unanswered.” State-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that at least 53 students were killed in the attack, highlighting the human toll of the violence on civilian populations.
The strikes have also targeted high-ranking military officials. According to three sources cited by Reuters, Iran’s defence minister and a senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed in Israeli attacks. There has been no immediate official confirmation from Tehran, but the deaths of such senior figures mark a significant escalation in the conflict and raise concerns over potential retaliatory actions.
Iranian authorities have not provided full details on the extent of infrastructure or civilian casualties beyond the school attack, but the Red Crescent’s statement indicates that the crisis is widespread, affecting multiple provinces simultaneously. Emergency services are reportedly working to reach affected areas and assist victims.
The international community has expressed concern over the escalation, emphasizing the importance of protecting civilians and maintaining channels for dialogue. The attacks on schools and senior military officials alike signal a potentially volatile phase in the ongoing conflict, with regional and global implications.
As tensions mount, Iran’s leadership has signaled that further responses are likely, raising fears of a broader confrontation in the Middle East. Observers warn that continued strikes on civilian and military targets could destabilize the region further, putting thousands more at risk.
