The attack on the school would be among the bloodiest war crimes against civilians committed by US forces in years. On the first day of the bombings, which President Donald Trump and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” the massacre of schoolchildren — though the United States has so far denied responsibility — coincided with Hegseth repeatedly boasting that the US military would not follow “stupid rules of engagement” in carrying out its operations.
“The school was in use, and children were present on the day of the attack,” the group said. “Human Rights Watch found no evidence to suggest that the school was being used for military purposes, although researchers were unable to speak to witnesses to the strikes, families of those killed, or other informed sources.”
President Trump must hold Secretary Hegseth and everyone else responsible for the killing of Iranian children accountable, and put an end to this illegal and unnecessary war of choice.
According to Human Rights Watch:
The United States should immediately assess its responsibility for this attack and make the findings public. If the US military carries out a strike, it should fully investigate the operational and political failures that led to the school strike, provide a full account of the harm to civilians, hold those responsible accountable, including through prosecution, and commit to changes that will ensure such failures are not repeated in future operations.
Analysis of the bombing conducted by various media outlets has provided strong evidence that US forces are most likely the perpetrators of the attack. An Israeli military spokesman told Human Rights Watch that she was “not aware of anything.” [Israeli military] Strikes in the area.” Hegseth said during a press conference on Wednesday that the Pentagon was investigating the matter, but did not provide any other indication of concern in this regard.
During the same press conference, as Human Rights Watch noted in its analysis of the attack, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Keane, said that US forces from the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group had been applying “pressure” in previous days along the “southeast flank” of the Iranian coast while he was present. He pointed out To an area of the map showing coalition bombing that includes Minab.
He added: “There needs to be a rapid and thorough investigation into this attack, including whether those responsible knew that a school was there and that it would be full of children and their teachers before midday.” Sophia Jonesan open source researcher with Digital Investigations Lab At Human Rights Watch. “Those responsible for the unlawful attack must be held accountable, including by prosecuting anyone responsible for war crimes.”
She added: “US allies and Israel must insist on accountability for the attack on the Taiba Tree School, and end attacks on civilian infrastructure in all their operations across the region, before more civilians, including children, are unlawfully killed.”
Human Rights Watch is not the only one calling for an independent investigation.
“This mass killing of children is unconscionable. It bears the hallmarks of a war crime.” He said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) on Friday after A.J New York Times investigation It was found that US forces were likely behind the attack. “Trump and Hegseth must and must take responsibility for the role of the United States. People deserve the full truth. There must be a prompt and transparent investigation.”
Friday as well Shared dreams Another school in Iran was reportedly hit by a US-Israeli bombing, bringing the total number of schools bombed to four in the first six days of the unprovoked military attack.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said in a statement, “The American people do not want their tax dollars spent on killing children in Iran, just as they do not want their tax dollars spent on killing children in Gaza.” “The recent US-Israeli attacks on schools in Iran are blatant war crimes. So was the original massacre of 180 schoolgirls, for which the Pentagon refuses to take responsibility.”
The group added: “Every child killed or injured in these indiscriminate US-Israeli bombing attacks is a sign that the Pentagon, led by Pete Hegseth, is emulating the tactics of the cowardly, genocidal Israeli army, which has mastered the art of bombing men, women and children from afar.” “The American people expect better from our armed forces. President Trump must hold Secretary Hegseth and everyone else responsible for the killing of Iranian children accountable, and end this illegal and unnecessary war of choice.”
While the war continues, and Trump said on Saturday that the Iranian people should expect more bombing and destruction than less over the weekend, pro-peace voices continued to demand a quick end to the violence and said the US president must forever bear responsibility for unleashing unnecessary bloodshed, including the specific destruction of the school in Minab.
“Trump likes to put his name on things, but this building should be the only one that history remembers.” He said Dylan Williams, vice president of government affairs at the Center for International Policy, referring to the school where the massacre occurred.
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