BEIJING: China has announced a humanitarian donation of $200,000 to support families of students who lost their lives in a missile strike on a school in southern Iran during the early phase of the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Speaking at a regular press briefing on Friday in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun confirmed that the funds will be provided through the Chinese Red Cross Society to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, according to AFP.
The assistance is intended to help offer condolences and compensation to the parents of students who were killed in the attack. The strike, which occurred on the first day of the war, resulted in heavy casualties.
According to Iranian media reports, funeral ceremonies were held for at least 165 victims, many of them schoolchildren. However, the exact number of casualties has not yet been independently verified.
Iran has accused the United States and Israel of carrying out the missile attack. Both countries have rejected responsibility, with Israel stating it had no involvement or prior knowledge of the incident.
A report by The New York Times earlier this week cited findings from a US military investigation, suggesting that a Tomahawk missile fired by US forces mistakenly struck the school due to a targeting error. The investigation is still ongoing.
Condemning the incident, Guo described the attack as an “indiscriminate strike” and said it represented a grave violation of international humanitarian law.
“Attacks targeting schools and children cross the boundaries of humanity and morality,” Guo stated, adding that China stands ready to provide further humanitarian support to Iran and its people during this difficult period.
Meanwhile, AFP reporters have been unable to independently access the site of the attack, making it difficult to verify the circumstances of the strike and the reported casualty figures.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump suggested that Iran might have been responsible for the incident, despite Iran not possessing Tomahawk missiles.
When later questioned about the investigative report indicating a US missile was involved, Trump said he was unaware of the findings but added that he could “live with whatever the investigation concludes.”
As investigations continue, the tragedy has sparked renewed international concern over the protection of civilians, particularly children, during armed conflicts.
