At least 51 girls have been killed in an air strike on an elementary school in southern Iran, local authorities said, as the United States and Israel ramps up attacks on the country.

The attack on Saturday morning hit Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab city in the southern Hormozgan province. The victims were between seven and 12 years old, according to Iran's Tasnim and Fars news agencies.

The air strike on the school caused many of those inside the building to become trapped under the rubble.

There were 170 female students at the school at the time of the attack. So far, at least 45 people have also been reported wounded.