The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council will convene a second emergency debate on Friday over a deadly airstrike on a school in southern Iran that reportedly killed 168 children.
Council president Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro announced the session on Wednesday, saying it would focus on the protection of children and schools in armed conflicts.
The urgent debate follows a request by Iran, China and Cuba, citing the February 28 strike on a school in Minab, a city in southern Iran, at the start of the ongoing war.
Preliminary findings from a United States military investigation, reported by The New York Times, indicate that a US Tomahawk cruise missile mistakenly hit the school due to a targeting error.
Iranian diplomat Somayeh Karimdoost condemned the incident, calling it a “grave breach of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.”
According to Iranian authorities, the strike killed 168 children aged between seven and 12, with many others injured.
Countries backing the debate said the issue deserved urgent and serious consideration by the council.
The 47-member body approved Friday’s session without a vote, shortly after concluding another emergency debate centred on Iran’s attacks across the Gulf region.
That earlier session, requested by Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council alongside Jordan, focused on civilian casualties resulting from Iranian strikes.
The council adopted a resolution condemning Iran’s “egregious attacks” on its Gulf neighbours and called for swift reparations for victims.
Friday’s debate is expected to shift attention to the protection of children and educational institutions amid escalating regional tensions.
