In a dangerous and tragic military escalation, dozens of children were killed and others seriously injured on Saturday in a series of violent Israeli airstrikes targeting a primary school in southern Iran. This deadly attack comes within the context of the open war and military operations declared by the United States and Israel, threatening to worsen the humanitarian and security situation in the region.

Details of the attack on Al-Shajara Al-Tayyiba School

Iranian state media reported that the bombing directly targeted the "Good Tree" primary school for girls in the city of Minab. The horrific attack killed approximately 40 students, an initial toll expected to rise due to the intensity of the bombing and the large number of victims still trapped under the rubble. Field reports indicated that the school housed around 170 students at the time of the airstrikes, turning the area into a scene of devastation and panic.

Civil defense and ambulance teams rushed to the scene of the accident, where they have so far managed to recover the bodies of 10 children, while search and rescue operations are still continuing at full speed amidst the rubble of the destroyed building, in an attempt to save as many innocent lives as possible.

Geographical and strategic context of the city of Minab

The city of Minab is located in Hormozgan province in southern Iran, a vital area near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Targeting this region indicates an expansion of the conflict into the Iranian interior and sensitive southern areas. Historically, these areas have been relatively spared direct attacks on civilian educational facilities, making this incident a dangerous turning point in the existing rules of military engagement.

Background to the conflict and escalating tensions

This attack coincides with the start of the joint US-Israeli offensive against Iran, a development reflecting the peak of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East in recent years. While the two sides have long exchanged threats and indirect strikes, the escalation to open warfare and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and facilities has placed the entire region on the brink of a conflagration, amid international fears of a slide into a full-blown regional war.

Humanitarian and legal implications

The targeting of schools and educational facilities has sparked outrage and condemnation, as these acts constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, which clearly stipulate the protection of civilians, especially children, and the neutrality of educational institutions in military operations. This incident is expected to cast a dark shadow on the international scene, with growing calls to end the targeting of civilians and to spare children the horrors of armed conflict, for which they always pay the heaviest price.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strongly worded official statement condemning in the strongest terms the Iranian aggression targeting the sovereignty of five brotherly Arab states: the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The Kingdom affirmed in its statement its full support and solidarity with these countries in confronting threats to their security and stability.

Broad Gulf and Arab solidarity

The Kingdom announced its readiness to dedicate all its resources and capabilities to supporting the five sister nations in all measures they take to protect their territories and citizens, emphasizing that the security of these countries is an integral part of the security of the Kingdom and the entire region. This firm Saudi stance reflects the depth of the fraternal ties and shared destiny that unite the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Jordan, and underscores Riyadh's leading role in defending Arab causes and confronting external ambitions aimed at destabilizing the region.

Warning of the consequences of continued violations

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned of the grave consequences that could result from the continuation of these blatant Iranian violations, which constitute a clear breach of the principles of international law and the UN Charter, which stipulates respect for the sovereignty of states, good neighborliness, and non-interference in internal affairs. The Kingdom indicated that tolerating such aggression encourages further chaos and threatens international trade routes and global energy supplies, making it a matter of international peace and security, not merely a regional issue.

Calling on the international community to assume its responsibilities

In closing, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia called upon the international community, and the UN Security Council in particular, to break its silence and unequivocally condemn these attacks, and to take decisive and effective measures to deter the Iranian regime and halt its ongoing violations that undermine the security and stability of the Middle East region. Riyadh emphasized that diplomacy and dialogue are the best options, but this requires all parties to adhere to international law, something that is lacking in Iran’s current practices, which are based on escalation and aggression.

Observers note that this statement represents an important turning point in unifying the Arab ranks in the face of regional challenges, and puts the international community to a real test of its seriousness in applying international law and protecting sovereign states from external aggression.