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Rubio says strike on elementary school in Iran not deliberate

3 March 2026

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said an airstrike that reportedly hit a girls’ elementary school in southern Iran was not carried out deliberately, after Iranian state media reported that more than 160 people were killed on the first day of US and Israeli attacks.

According to Iranian state media, the strike took place on Saturday in the town of Minab. The reported casualties have not been independently verified.

Asked about the incident, Rubio said that the “Department of War” would investigate if the strike had been conducted by US forces, adding that “the United States would not deliberately target a school.” US Central Command said it was “looking into” reports of civilian harm resulting from ongoing military operations.

The United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes against Iran last weekend. The conflict has since widened, with Iran carrying out retaliatory attacks.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed during the opening phase of the campaign. United States President Donald Trump has said the operation could continue for several weeks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war may take “some time”, though not years.

The Israeli military has also outlined dozens of potential targets in Lebanon amid fears of further regional escalation.

Source: commonspace.eu with Reuters and The Guardian

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