KHOMEYN, Iran — A dawn airstrike struck a school building in the central Iranian city of Khomeyn on Monday, March 16, 2026, causing significant damage to the educational facility and several nearby homes, Iranian authorities and local media report.
The attack occurred in the early morning hours, when most residents were still at home, shattering windows and leaving debris scattered through surrounding residential streets. Officials say there were no reported casualties from the strike, and emergency services were deployed quickly to assess structural damage and secure the area.
The targeted school — whose name has not been officially disclosed — is located in a densely populated neighborhood of Khomeyn, a city in Markazi Province roughly 190 miles (300 km) southwest of Tehran. Several houses adjacent to the school were also damaged in the blast, prompting evacuations as safety checks were carried out.
Iranian state media attributed the strike to ongoing U.S.–Israeli military operations against Iranian targets, part of a broader escalation of hostilities that have seen air and missile strikes across multiple Iranian cities. Tehran has condemned such attacks as violations of international law and vowed to respond forcefully to what it describes as acts of aggression.
Residents in Khomeyn described a sudden, loud explosion at first light, followed by the sight of smoke rising from the school grounds. “We heard a huge blast and immediately saw shattered glass and debris in the streets,” one local resident told state television. “It was terrifying.”
Authorities have emphasized that there were no deaths or serious injuries, noting that the timing of the strike — before regular school hours — likely prevented civilian casualties. Investigators are continuing to gather details on the precise nature of the strike and its intended targets.
The incident highlights the mounting strain on civilian infrastructure amid the wider conflict in the Middle East, and comes as Iranian officials call for international pressure to curb attacks on non military sites.