UN experts, commissioned by the Human Rights Council, concluded that U.S. forces carried out a Tomahawk cruise missile strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab on 23 February 2024, killing 150 civilians. The same panel examined a separate tungsten‑pellet strike on a sports complex in Lamerd that killed 22 residents. Both attacks were deemed indiscriminate, breaching the rules of armed conflict.
The 18‑page report, filed with the Council in Geneva, cites “reasonable grounds” that the U.S. committed war crimes. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly dismissed the findings, calling the U.S. the only party to act lawfully and accusing Iran of crimes against humanity. The Pentagon said the incident is under investigation but will not comment on the independent assessment.
While the report is not legally binding, it joins a growing dossier that could be leveraged in international courts. The UN panel also levied accusations against Iran for suppressing protesters and conducting its own human rights violations.
In Minab, a mother of four mourns the loss of her eldest son, who was a student at the school; she says the building was a former military site now used by children. The next step will be a formal inquiry by the UN Human Rights Council and potential referrals to the International Criminal Court if evidence suffices.