US says it wouldn't deliberately target a school after Iran said over 160 killed in strike | Reuters

US says it wouldn't deliberately target a school after Iran said over 160 killed in strike | Reuters

US says it wouldn't deliberately target a school after Iran said over 160 killed in strike
By Kanishka SinghMarch 3, 202610:17 AM GMT+10:30Updated 11 hours ago


People and rescue forces work following an Israel strike on a school in Minab, Iran, February 28, 2026. Abbas Zakeri/Mehr News/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - Secretary of State Marco Rubio said U.S. forces "would not deliberately target a school" after Iranian state media reported over 160 were killed in a strike on a ​girls' school on the first day of the U.S. and Israeli attacks on ‌Iran.
The reported strike took place on a girls' elementary school in the town of Minab in southern Iran on Saturday, marking the deadliest incident in the U.S. and Israel's war against Iran.

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The incident has been condemned by ​the U.N. culture and education agency UNESCO and Nobel Peace Prize-winning education activist ​Malala Yousafzai. Deliberately attacking an educational institution or hospital or any other civilian ⁠structure is a war crime under international humanitarian law, opens new tab.
"The Department of War would be investigating ​that if that was our strike, and I would refer your question to them," Rubio told ​reporters on Monday when asked about the incident. "The United States would not deliberately target a school."
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The Pentagon and the U.S. Central Command did not respond to a request for comment. Over the weekend, the U.S. Central ​Command told media outlets it was "looking into" reports of "civilian harm resulting from ongoing military operations."
Rosemary ​DiCarlo, the U.N. under-secretary-general for peacebuilding, said on Monday she was aware of reports from Iran on ‌the deaths ⁠from the reported strike and noted that U.S. officials have said they were looking into the reports.
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"It will be very tragic, but I can't speak to the details behind it because I just don't have it. It will be a tragic outcome if it's happened. I ​don't have the details ​as to what led ⁠to it but what is clear is that the United States will not deliberately target a school," Rubio said.
Israel's ambassador to the U.N., ​Danny Danon, was also asked about the strike that Iranian state ​media blamed on ⁠Israel and the U.S. Danon said he had seen different reports, including that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted the school.


Reuters could not independently confirm the reports.
The U.S. and Israeli air war ⁠against ​Iran began with their attacks against Tehran on Saturday and ​has since widened with Iranian retaliation.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed over the weekend. President Donald Trump has said ​the operation could continue for some weeks.