Minab, Iran — At around 10:45 a.m. local time (07:15 GMT), the Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ Elementary School in the southern port city of Minab, Hormozgan province, was struck by one or more powerful explosions during the intensified military conflict between Iran and U.S.–Israeli forces.
The building rapidly collapsed, burying classrooms and playgrounds under rubble as hundreds of children and teachers were inside.
The Human Toll
Iranian authorities and multiple humanitarian groups report that at least 160–168 civilians, primarily schoolgirls aged roughly 7 to 12 were killed in the attack, with dozens more injured. Many bodies were so severely damaged that identification required DNA analysis, and morgues in southern Iran were overwhelmed.
The strike occurred on February 28, 2026, during the opening hours of intense air operations by U.S. and Israeli forces against strategic targets inside Iran. This military campaign had begun that morning, and strikes were reported in multiple provinces. The school was located near an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval base that was also targeted.
Early satellite imagery and video footage confirmed multiple impacts in and around the school and adjacent military facilities, although how many of those struck the school itself remains a subject of ongoing investigation.
The Conflict and the Camapaign
The war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran escalated earlier this year following rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and regional influence. The conflict intensified with a joint U.S.-Israeli strike campaign that began in late February, targeting military sites across Iran, including Revolutionary Guard bases, missile launchers, and other strategic infrastructure.
Civilian areas have also been hit. The deadliest incident so far occurred on 28 February, when a Tomahawk missile struck the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, killing scores of children and teachers. Preliminary U.S. investigations suggest the strike resulted from targeting errors, though Iran has consistently accused the U.S. of deliberately hitting the school.
Since the strikes began, Iran has faced extensive disruption to essential services, including widespread internet blackouts, limiting access to information and complicating evacuation efforts. Iranian civilians have reported heavy anxiety and confusion as airstrikes hit both military and residential areas, and humanitarian organizations warn that civilian casualties and infrastructure damage continue to mount.
The war has widened regionally, with Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen launching attacks on Israel, and U.S.-Iran confrontations extending to Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea, threatening global shipping routes. Diplomatic efforts remain limited, while both sides continue heavy bombardments across multiple fronts.
