Iran seeks debate at UN rights body over fatal school strike, letter shows

GENEVA: Iran ‌has requested an urgent debate at the UN Human Rights Council on ​the fatal air strike on a primary school on the first day of the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, a letter showed on Tuesday.
“A strike on a functioning school ‌during class hours represents ‌a grave ​assault ‌on ⁠children, ​on education, ⁠and on the future of the entire community,” Iran’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, said in a letter to the council president dated ⁠March 23.
The attack on ‌the Shajjareh ‌Tayyebeh School consisted ​of two missile ‌strikes in quick succession that ‌killed 168 children, mostly girls, Iranian officials say.
Reuters reported on March 5 that US military investigators believe it ‌is likely that US forces were responsible but have not ⁠yet ⁠reached a final conclusion or completed their investigation. The Pentagon has since elevated the probe.
Gulf states have made a parallel request for a meeting of the same Geneva-based council over Iran’s strikes on civilians and energy infrastructure across the Middle ​East. That ​debate will take place on Wednesday.