A missile strike reportedly carried out by the US hit a girls’ elementary school in southern Iran, causing devastating casualties among students and teachers.

The strike targeted the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school in the city of Minab, located near a naval base of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Initial estimates indicate that between 165 and 180 people were killed, with most of the victims reported to be schoolgirls aged 7-12 as well as teachers, The Caspian Post reports via UNICEF.

Authorities say a second missile struck the area around 40 minutes later, while rescue teams were attempting to evacuate survivors, further endangering first responders and complicating rescue efforts.

Video footage verified by The New York Times and the investigative group Bellingcat reportedly shows the moment the missile impacted the school during ongoing US military operations in the region. The footage confirms that the school, located next to an IRGC naval facility, was directly hit, causing extensive destruction.