China Donates $200,000 to Families of Iranian School Strike Victims
Beijing condemns attack on civilian infrastructure as US investigation reportedly finds targeting error
BEIJING — March 13, 2026 — China announced on Friday that it will provide $200,000 in emergency humanitarian assistance to the families of students killed in a missile strike on a girls’ primary school in southern Iran, as Beijing condemned what it termed “indiscriminate attacks” on civilian infrastructure amid the widening Middle East conflict .
Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a regular news briefing in Beijing that the Red Cross Society of China has decided to provide the funds to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, specifically designated for “condolences and compensations” to the parents of deceased students .
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“Our hearts go out to the victims and those who have lost their lives,” Guo said, expressing China’s deep condolences over the deaths at the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Iran’s Hormozgan province .
The announcement came in response to a journalist’s query about whether China would provide humanitarian aid following the February 28 strike on the school in Minab, which occurred on the first day of joint US-Israeli military operations against Iran .
China Condemns Attack on Children
Guo stated that China condemns all indiscriminate attacks on civilians and non-military targets, characterising the school strike as a serious violation of international law.
“Attacking schools and harming children seriously violate international humanitarian law and cross the baseline of humanity and human conscience,” the spokesman said, according to a transcript of the briefing published by multiple news agencies .
He added that such attacks “constitute a more severe violation of international humanitarian law and breach the bottom line of human conscience and morality” .
“China stands ready to continue providing necessary assistance to Iran in a humanitarian spirit to support the Iranian people through this difficult time,” Guo said .
The funds will be channelled through the Iranian Red Crescent Society to ensure they reach the bereaved families, according to the Foreign Ministry statement .
Unverified Casualty Figures and Competing Narratives
Iranian media reports have stated that funerals were held for at least 165 people, including children, killed in the strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School . However, the toll has not been independently verified, with news agencies including AFP reporting they have been unable to access the location to confirm the circumstances of the strike or the casualty figures .
Tehran has formally accused the United States and Israel of conducting the deadly missile attack on the school in Iran’s south on the first day of the war . The conflict began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched joint attacks that, according to Iranian officials, killed more than 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and injured over 10,000 others .
Tehran subsequently retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and several Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Eight US service members have been killed since the conflict began, according to official figures .
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US Investigation Findings
The New York Times reported on March 11 that a US military investigation has determined that a US Tomahawk missile struck the school because of a targeting mistake . The report suggested the strike was not intentional but resulted from an error in targeting systems or intelligence.
Israel has denied any involvement in or knowledge of the strike, with officials stating the country’s military did not target the school .
US President Donald Trump initially suggested that Iran itself may have been responsible for the attack, even though Iran does not possess Tomahawk missiles in its arsenal . He later said he could “live with” whatever the investigation reveals but, when asked about The New York Times report on Wednesday, told reporters: “I don’t know about it” .
The conflicting narratives surrounding the school strike highlight the challenges of verifying information in the highly contested information environment accompanying the military conflict.
Broader Regional Context
The school strike occurred amid wider hostilities that have drawn in multiple actors across the Middle East. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping since approximately March 1, causing a surge in oil prices. The narrow shipping lane handles about 20 million barrels of oil daily and roughly 20 per cent of global liquefied natural gas trade .
The conflict has expanded to include Iran-backed groups across the region. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organisation representing pro-Iranian militias, has claimed multiple attacks on US forces in the region. US Central Command confirmed on Friday that four US service members were killed in a KC-135 tanker aircraft crash in western Iraq, though officials stated the incident was not due to hostile fire despite claims of responsibility from Iran-backed groups.
Saudi Arabia has reported intercepting drones heading toward its Eastern Province, while Dubai’s financial district has sustained debris damage from intercepted projectiles .
China’s Diplomatic Position
Guo used the briefing to reiterate China’s broader concerns about the escalating conflict, stating that Beijing “is gravely concerned over the continued tensions in West Asia” .
“China believes that all countries’ sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity should be respected and brook no infringement,” he said. “All parties should immediately cease military operations, return to dialogue, and prevent the conflict from spilling over” .
The $200,000 donation represents a symbolic humanitarian gesture rather than a substantial financial commitment, but it carries diplomatic significance as Beijing seeks to position itself as a responsible stakeholder concerned with civilian welfare amid the conflict. China has maintained diplomatic and economic ties with Iran while also engaging with Gulf Arab states and Israel, navigating complex relationships as the conflict expands.
The announcement follows China’s broader pattern of offering humanitarian assistance in conflict zones while calling for de-escalation and diplomatic solutions, consistent with its stated foreign policy principles of non-interference and respect for state sovereignty.
Humanitarian Implications
The focus on schoolchildren victims reflects the particularly tragic nature of the strike, which has drawn international attention to the human cost of the expanding conflict. The Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, a city in the southern Hormozgan province, was reportedly housing students when it was struck .
Humanitarian organisations have expressed growing concern about civilian casualties as the conflict expands across multiple fronts. The United Nations has previously called on all parties to conflict to adhere to international humanitarian law and protect civilians, particularly children and other vulnerable populations.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society, which will receive and distribute the Chinese donation, has been actively involved in emergency response efforts since the conflict began, providing assistance to affected communities across the country.
Current Situation
As of March 13, hostilities continue across multiple fronts, with no immediate prospect of de-escalation. The school strike donation announcement came on the same day as reports of continued military exchanges, including Iranian-backed militia operations against US forces in Iraq and ongoing naval tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
China’s humanitarian gesture, while limited in scale, underscores the international dimension of a conflict that has drawn in global powers and threatens wider regional instability. Beijing’s call for dialogue and its offer of assistance represent an effort to maintain diplomatic engagement even as military operations continue.
The funds are expected to be transferred to the Iranian Red Crescent Society in the coming days, with distribution to bereaved families to follow through local humanitarian channels, according to the Foreign Ministry statement .
SOURCES / INPUTS
Al Arabiya English/AFP: China donates $200,000 to families of Iran school strike victims
China Daily: China offers $200,000 aid to Iran after school strike
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