The Digest:
At least 53 people have been killed and 63 injured in an Israeli strike that hit an elementary girls' school in Minab, Hormozgan province, southern Iran. State-run media reported rescue workers continue clearing debris from the site of the Saturday attack, which is part of broader US-Israel military actions across Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted an image of the scene on X, expressing sorrow over the destruction and the loss of "innocent children," vowing the crimes "will not go unanswered." Russia has condemned the strikes as a "deliberate, premeditated, and unprovoked act of armed aggression" against a sovereign UN member state, accusing the US and Israel of violating international law. Moscow warned that Washington and Tel Aviv have embarked on a "perilous course" pushing the region toward potential humanitarian and radiological disaster, and called for an immediate return to political and diplomatic solutions.
Key Points
- The targeting of a school filled with young children represents a catastrophic humanitarian tragedy and potential war crime.
- The high civilian death toll is likely to inflame regional sentiment and harden Iranian resolve for retaliation.
- Russia's strong condemnation reflects deepening geopolitical divisions and potential shifts in global alliances.
- Iran's vow that the attack "will not go unanswered" signals imminent further escalation in the conflict.
- The attack on civilian infrastructure raises profound questions about targeting protocols and adherence to international law.
Sources: The Cable
