School Struck in Central Iran Amid Rising Conflict: Meher News

In a fresh escalation of the conflict between Iran and United States‑led forces, another school in the central Iranian city of Khomein has been struck by what Iranian state media are describing as a United States missile attack. The semi‑official Mehr News agency reported the incident, stating that the missile hit the Hafiz Khomeini School, causing extensive damage to the school itself and several adjacent residential properties. Iranian authorities claim that the blast also devastated neighbouring homes, intensifying fears among civilians already on edge due to recent hostilities.

This latest incident follows harrowing reports from Minab in southern Iran, where a missile strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school caused massive loss of life, particularly among young pupils. International concern has grown substantially, with humanitarian organisations and United Nations officials decrying attacks on educational institutions and urging independent investigations into all such incidents.

While definitive, independently verified casualty figures remain elusive, Iranian authorities have described the Khomein strike as both indiscriminate and severe in its impact. Local emergency services were reportedly deployed to clear rubble and assist the injured, although the full scale of harm to students and teachers has yet to be confirmed by external observers.

The broader backdrop is a rapidly intensifying theatre of conflict that has seen strikes by United States and allied forces on several Iranian military installations, triggering retaliatory actions and significant international diplomatic activity. Analysts suggest that schools located near military targets may be vulnerable to so‑called “collateral damage” during complex military operations.

Below is a summary of major reported school attacks in Iran during the recent escalation:

Diplomatic sources note mounting pressure on all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law, which mandates heightened protection for civilians and civilian infrastructure — especially schools and hospitals — in times of conflict. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has warned that attacks on schools could constitute violations of global norms and may prompt calls for prosecution or sanctions.

As investigations continue, international actors are urging transparency and accountability, with calls for impartial inquiries into both the Minab and Khomein incidents to establish clear facts and assign responsibility where appropriate.

Source: Middle East Eye