8 hours ago

Gabriela Pomeroy Funerals have been held for students and staff killed in what Iranian authorities have said was a US-Israeli strike on a school in southern Iran.

Iranian officials said more than 160 people were killed when a girls' school was hit in the city of Minab on Saturday, as the US and Israel launched widespread strikes targeting Iran's military sites and leadership.

BBC News has not been able to independently verify the Iranian authorities' death toll.

The school was located near an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) base.

The US military said it was looking into reports of the incident, while Israel's military said it was "not aware" of any operations in the area.

Hundreds of mourners packed the streets to pay their respects at the funeral which was broadcast on Iranian state TV.

Coffins draped in the flag of the Islamic Republic were carried through the crowds, as a voiceover recounted the grief of mothers and fathers who had lost their daughters.

Iranian officials said the school was hit by three missiles on Saturday morning.

It was located about 600m (1970ft) from an IRGC base.

The six-day working week in Iran runs from Saturday to Thursday, with Friday being the only official day of rest, meaning the school was likely occupied when it was hit.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian called the incident a "barbaric act" and "another black page in the record of countless crimes committed by the aggressors". The country's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted a photo on social media of graves being dug for 160 people, with the comment: "This is how 'rescue' promised by Mr Trump looks in reality. " The BBC has verified clips of the aftermath of the explosion, which show smoke rising from a building as crowds gathered nearby, with some people screaming in panic.

International news organisations are often refused visas to Iran which severely limits their ability to gather information there.

On Monday, the BBC asked the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio if the school building was struck by an American missile.

"The US would not deliberately target a school," Rubio said in response.

"We would have no interest, and frankly, no incentive to target civilian infrastructure. "

"I don't have the details as to what led to it, but what is clear is that the United States would not target a school," he added.

In a statement reported in US media, Centcom spokesman Tim Hawkins said: "We take these reports seriously. "

"The protection of civilians is of utmost importance, and we will continue to take all precautions available to minimise the risk of unintended harm," he said

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