An in-depth investigation by Al Jazeera has raised serious questions over the deadliest single attack in the ongoing US-Israel military campaign on Iran, which struck the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab and killed 165 girls and staff members.
Overview of the Minab School Attack
On the morning of February 28, 2026, dozens of students arrived at the Shajareh Tayyebeh (“The Good Tree”) school in Minab, Hormozgan province. Moments later, missiles hit the building, causing the roof to collapse and burying students and teachers under debris. Iranian authorities confirmed 165 fatalities, most of them girls aged 7–12, with at least 95 others injured.
While US and Israeli authorities initially claimed they were unaware that the building was a school, Al Jazeera’s investigation, using satellite imagery, historical data, and official Iranian sources, reveals the school had been separate from the adjacent military complex for over a decade. The attack pattern indicates a direct strike rather than collateral damage from the nearby Sayyid al-Shuhada military base, raising questions about the intelligence used or whether the strike was deliberate.
The Geostrategic Context of Minab
Minab holds strategic importance for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, as it overlooks the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf waters. The Sayyid al-Shuhada military complex, including the Asif missile brigade, is central to Iran’s coastal defense and asymmetric warfare operations.
The Shajareh Tayyebeh school, however, is classified as a civilian institution, primarily serving children of IRGC Navy personnel. Despite this connection, international humanitarian law treats the children as protected civilians unless the school is actively used for military operations.
Evidence of Civilian Status
Al Jazeera’s analysis shows:
- Between 2013–2016, the school was separated from the military complex with independent walls and gates.
- By 2018, satellite imagery shows playgrounds, murals, and civilian cars, confirming regular school operations.
- The adjacent Martyr Absalan specialized clinic, built in 2025, was spared during the strike, indicating attackers had updated maps distinguishing civilian facilities from military targets.
The pattern suggests either a serious intelligence failure or a deliberate strike on a civilian school.
Misleading Claims
Israeli-affiliated accounts circulated videos claiming an Iranian air defense missile caused the destruction. Open-source verification, however, shows these images were from a different incident in Zanjan, 1,300 km away, clearly unrelated to Minab.
Historical Context
The Minab attack is part of a pattern in which civilian facilities—including schools and hospitals—have been hit in conflicts by both the US and Israel:
- 1970: Israeli jets bombed Bahr al-Baqar school in Egypt, killing 46 children.
- 1991: US bombs hit the Amiriyah shelter in Baghdad, killing over 400 civilians.
- 2015: US AC-130 strike in Kunduz, Afghanistan, killed 42 at a hospital.
- 2023–2025: Israeli operations in Gaza destroyed over 95% of schools used as shelters, killing and wounding thousands.
These examples highlight repeated failures or deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure during military campaigns.
Read More: Too early to tell scope of Iran strikes, Trump tells Congress
FAQs
Was the Minab school part of a military facility?
No. While administratively linked to the IRGC Navy, the school had been physically and operationally separated from the military complex since 2016, functioning fully as a civilian school.
Could the strike have been accidental?
Unlikely. Satellite imagery shows the adjacent Martyr Absalan clinic, only a year old, was spared, indicating precise knowledge of the target layout.
How many were killed and injured?
At least 165 fatalities, primarily young girls aged 7–12, and around 95 injured.
Why is Minab strategically important?
Minab lies near the Strait of Hormuz and houses the Asif missile brigade, a key part of the IRGC Navy’s asymmetric warfare strategy, making it a high-value military target.
What does international law say about this strike?
International humanitarian law protects civilians, including children, unless the facility is being used for military operations. Any deliberate or negligent targeting of civilians constitutes a serious violation.
Conclusion
The Al Jazeera investigation paints a grim picture: whether by outdated intelligence or deliberate choice, the Minab school strike constitutes a severe breach of civilian protection. Historical patterns suggest it is not an isolated incident but part of repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure in conflict zones. The precision sparing of nearby civilian facilities underscores the troubling possibility that the school was intentionally targeted.This incident reinforces the urgent need for accountability and scrutiny in military operations, particularly regarding the protection of children and civilians, who remain the most vulnerable in conflicts that increasingly blur the line between military and civilian spac
