The United Nations is demanding an investigation after almost 200 people died following a strike on a girls’ school in Iran.
On Saturday, the same day Donald Trump, along with Israel, began attacking the country, the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab had been bombed. The New York Times reported that at least half of the two-story building was destroyed by the explosion, resulting in the death of at least 175. Most of them are likely children who were just trying to get an education. Horrific. The strike is reportedly the deadliest attack since the US and Israel began the terrifying conflict over the weekend.
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It is unknown why the school was hit or which country’s forces were responsible, but The New York Times reported that it is near a naval base belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps that was targeted. Following the attack, Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted US forces “would not deliberately target a school.” Capt. Tim Hawkins, a U.S. Central Command spokesman, added to The New York Times on Saturday that protecting civilians is of “the utmost importance”:
“We are aware of reports concerning civilian harm resulting from ongoing military operations. We take these reports seriously and are looking into them.”
The United Nations ultimately wants answers now because intentionally attacking a school, hospital, or other civilian structure is a war crime, and indiscriminate attacks also violate the law. At one point, per satellite images reviewed by The New York Times, the school building was part of the aforementioned naval base. But by September 2016, the building had been walled off and was no longer connected to the base.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, however, it doesn’t matter if the schools are being used for military purposes. The law specifically requires armed parties to avoid or minimize harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure. So, the UN is calling for an investigation into the deadly attack. Ravina Shamdasani, a UN human rights office spokesperson, said during a press briefing in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday:
“The High Commissioner [Volker Türk] calls for a prompt, impartial and thorough investigation into the circumstances of the attack. The onus is on the forces that carried out the attack to investigate it. We call on them to make public the findings and ensure accountability and redress for victims.”
Shamdasani added that “this is absolutely horrific,” noting that the photos taken after the strike capture “the essence of the destruction, despair and senselessness and cruelty of this conflict.” The spokesperson also offered a reminder about the rules of war:
“The laws of war are crystal clear. Civilians, and civilian objects are protected. All States, and armed groups, must abide by these laws.”
She shared that the high commissioner urges “all parties to exercise maximum restraint, prevent further escalation, and take all feasible measures to protect civilians, including foreign nationals, as well as critical infrastructure” moving forward, adding:
“Returning to the negotiating table is the one and only way to bring an end to the killing, destruction and despair.”
However, peace may not happen for a bit. Trump said on Monday that he’s prepared for the conflict to go on for as long as possible:
“Whatever it takes, we will always — and we have right from the beginning, we projected four to five weeks, but we have the capability to go far longer than that. We’ll do it.”
Our hearts break for the young lives lost in this deadly attack. Reactions, Perezcious readers? Tell us in the comments (below).
[Image via MEGA/WENN]
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