At least 40 people, including students, have been killed and 48 others wounded after Israeli strikes targeted a girls’ primary school in the city of Minab in southern Iran’s Hormozgan province. The attack, reportedly supported by the United States, has sparked outrage and deepened fears of a new regional war.

Strikes Target Strategic Sites Across Iran

Israel and the U.S. launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, targeting strategic sites including missile launchers, nuclear infrastructure, and suspected military facilities. Explosions were reported in Tehran and other cities, according to multiple sources.

The operation was planned for months, with the launch date decided weeks ago, an Israeli defense official said. The U.S. military has named the strikes ‘Operation EPIC FURY,’ according to Pentagon officials.

Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that seven missiles struck an area near the presidential palace and the compound of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The attack has further dimmed hopes for a diplomatic solution to Iran’s long-running nuclear dispute with the West.

Escalation of Tensions and Military Alerts

Explosions were heard in Tehran on Saturday, Iranian media reported, and sirens sounded across Israel around 08:15 local time in what the military said was a proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of an incoming missile strike.

The Israeli military announced the closure of schools and workplaces, with exceptions for essential sectors, and a ban on public airspace. Israel closed its airspace to civilian flights, and the airports authority asked the public not to go to any of the country’s airports.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the attack was a pre-emptive strike against Iran to remove threats to the state of Israel. ‘The State of Israel launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran to remove threats to the State of Israel,’ Katz said.

Regional Diplomacy and Escalation

The U.S. and Iran had recently renewed negotiations in February in a bid to resolve the decades-long dispute through diplomacy and avert the threat of a military confrontation that could destabilize the region.

However, Israel has insisted that any U.S. deal with Iran must include the dismantling of Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure, not just stopping the enrichment process. Israel also lobbied Washington to include restrictions on Iran’s missile program in the talks.

Iran said it was prepared to discuss curbs on its nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions but ruled out linking the issue to missiles. Tehran also warned that it would defend itself against any attack and cautioned neighboring countries hosting U.S. troops that it would retaliate against American bases if Washington struck Iran.

The attack comes after a 12-day air war between Israel and Iran in June, following repeated U.S.-Israeli warnings that they would strike again if Iran pressed ahead with its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

A U.S. official told the New York Times that U.S. strikes on Iran were underway. A source told Reuters that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was not in Tehran and had been transferred to a secure location.

The strike on a girls’ school has raised serious concerns about the collateral damage of military actions in densely populated areas. The incident has also drawn international condemnation and calls for de-escalation from several global actors.

With the situation in the region growing increasingly volatile, the next steps remain uncertain. The international community is closely watching for any further developments that could lead to a wider conflict or renewed diplomatic efforts.