At least 168 people, many of them young girls, were killed on February 28, 2026, when a school in Minab, Iran, was struck by a missile, according to Iranian officials. The attack, which occurred during the initial phase of the 2026 Iran war, has drawn international scrutiny and sparked investigations into who was responsible. The incident underscores the devastating impact of conflict on civilian populations and raises concerns about the protection of children in war zones.
The Reconstruction of Events
The Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, Hormozgan province, was reportedly hit around 10:00 a.m. Local time (UTC+03:30) as students were in class. In Iran, the school week runs from Saturday to Thursday. According to reports, the school was struck by a missile, causing the building to collapse on the children. Iranian state media initially reported the incident, and the news was subsequently analyzed and reported by international news organizations including The Guardian, The Washington Post, Le Monde, and NBC News.
The Guardian analyzed verified videos, geolocated images, and satellite photographs to reconstruct the events. Footage from the scene showed black smoke billowing from a damaged building adorned with murals. The investigation found that the school had been separate from an adjacent military site for at least ten years. Many bodies were recovered from the rubble as rescue teams searched through the debris.
The number of casualties remains difficult to independently verify due to restrictions on journalist access and ongoing internet disruptions. Iranian state media reported 168 deaths and at least 95 injuries, figures cited cautiously by international media, but which still describe the incident as the deadliest single event with mass civilian casualties since the start of the conflict. Dramatic accounts from those who witnessed the attack have emerged, including one mother who told NBC News she received an urgent call from the school inviting her to pick up her son given that “the war had begun.” She arrived to identify the school already collapsed.
The Proximity to Military Sites
According to CBS News, the school was located near two sites controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including the IRGC Seyyed Al-Shohada Barracks. Yet, there is no indication that the school was used for military purposes. The schoolyard and classrooms were separated and fenced off from the rest of the complex, and the center was frequented by many children from the local community.
The timing of the attack as well raises questions. Iranian authorities began ordering schools to close shortly after the start of the bombings, but according to sources from the teachers’ union cited by The Guardian, the time between the announcement of the closure and the explosion was too short for parents to reach the school and collect their children.
Reactions from the United States and Israel
Following the attack, neither the United States nor Israel directly claimed responsibility. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the act as “savage” and “inhumane.” Washington stated it was aware of the reports of civilian casualties and had launched an investigation, reiterating that U.S. Forces “would not deliberately target a school.”
“We are aware of reports of civilian harm resulting from ongoing military operations. We take these reports seriously and are investigating,” said Captain Tim Hawkins, from the U.S. Central Command (Centcom). Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the Pentagon was examining the reports, adding, “All I know is we are looking into what happened. Of course, we don’t target civilians, but we are looking at the matter and doing checks.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said the United States “would not deliberately target a school” and that the Department of Defense “will investigate whether this was one of ours.”
Nadav Shoshani, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), stated that the Israeli army “has no knowledge of any IDF operation in that area” where the school is located. Reuters reported, citing two U.S. Officials, that U.S. Military investigators believe It’s “likely” that the strike on the school was carried out by U.S. Forces, though the investigation is ongoing and no definitive conclusion has been reached.
A Pattern of Civilian Casualties in Conflict
The incident at the Minab school is emblematic of contemporary warfare, where civilian structures are often located near potential military targets. Similar tragedies have occurred in other conflicts, including in Gaza and Ukraine. According to UNICEF, over 1,300 schools have been destroyed or severely damaged in Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022. The United Nations has documented hundreds of attacks on schools and hospitals and numerous cases of children killed or maimed during the conflict. In Sudan, an attack on a nursery in December 2025 killed over 100 people, including 63 children.
The Human Cost of War
“There are no series A and series B victims, no people who have more right to live than others just because they were born on one continent or another or in a particular country,” said Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, emphasizing “the importance of international humanitarian law, whose respect cannot depend on circumstances and military and strategic interests.”
Pope Leon XIV has repeatedly condemned the violence and called for peace, stating, “This is unworthy of the human being, shameful for humanity and for those responsible for nations. How can one believe, after centuries of history, that war actions bring peace and do not turn against those who carried them out? How can one feel of laying the foundations for tomorrow without cohesion, without a shared vision animated by the common good? How can one continue to betray the peace aspirations of peoples with the false propaganda of rearmament, in the vain illusion that supremacy resolves problems instead of fueling hatred and revenge?”
As with the tragedy at the Minab school, such sentiments appear to be losing ground in the international public debate. The focus increasingly centers on debating how to continue the war, rather than whether it should be stopped, leading to a situation where children become the first victims not only of weapons but also of this illogical mindset.
