'We Never Target Civilians': US Denies Role In Iran Schoolgirls Bombing That Killed 168

Last Updated:March 04, 2026, 22:03 IST

The strike hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school in the city of Minab on Saturday, the first day of US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

The United States on Thursday continued to deny responsibility for a strike on a girls’ school in southern Iran that reportedly killed 168 people, most of them children, as the conflict in the region intensifies.

Speaking at a Pentagon briefing, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington was investigating the incident but insisted that American forces do not target civilians.

“All I can say is we’re investigating that," he said. “We, of course, never target civilian targets, but we’re taking a look and investigating that."

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The strike hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school in the city of Minab on Saturday, the first day of US and Israeli attacks on Iran. According to Iranian state media, up to 168 people were killed and 95 injured. Tehran has blamed both the US and Israel for the bombing. Neither country has confirmed carrying out the strike.

An independent United Nations investigation into rights violations in Iran strongly condemned the attacks. The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran said the US and Israeli strikes, as well as Iran’s retaliatory attacks across the region, were in violation of the UN Charter.

“These attacks, which were followed by Iran’s retaliatory strikes across the region, run counter to the UN Charter," the mission said in a statement. The UN Charter prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

The mission also expressed deep shock over the strike on the Minab school, stating that most of the victims appeared to be schoolgirls aged between seven and 12.

(With inputs from agencies)

News world 'We Never Target Civilians': US Denies Role In Iran Schoolgirls Bombing That Killed 168

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