Minab, Iran — March 1, 2026:
The death toll from a devastating missile strike on a girls’ elementary school in Minab, in southern Iran’s Hormozgan province, has risen sharply, according to Iranian state sources. Officials said at least 148 people — mainly schoolgirls — were killed, with nearly 100 others wounded when the strike hit Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school on Saturday morning.

The attack occurred amid a major joint military offensive launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28, described by Tehran as an act of “aggression” and by Washington as a pre‑emptive campaign targeting military infrastructure.

Iran’s state news agency Mizan cited a local prosecutor confirming the 148 fatalities and 95 injuries in the school bombing, which officials said was adjacent to an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facility. Due to restrictions on independent reporting inside Iran, the exact number of casualties could not be independently verified by international journalists.

Context of the Military Campaign

The school strike is part of a broader US–Israeli air campaign that began on February 28 and has targeted sites across Tehran and other major Iranian cities. The offensive has resulted in significant civilian and military casualties and prompted a fierce retaliatory response from Iran.

According to Iranian authorities and humanitarian agencies, more than 200 people have been killed and hundreds wounded across multiple provinces since the operation began.

Global and Regional Reactions

The strike on the Minab school has drawn widespread international condemnation, with human rights advocates and global leaders highlighting the vulnerability of civilian populations in conflict zones. Nobel laureate and education activist Malala Yousafzai described the incident as heartbreaking and urged global accountability for the protection of children and schools.

Meanwhile, the conflict has escalated beyond Iran’s borders, with reports of missile and drone attacks hitting Israeli cities and US military bases in the Middle East, leading to further casualties and diplomatic tensions.

Humanitarian Impact

Local rescue teams and families have been digging through rubble in the devastated school compound, retrieving belongings and attempting to recover victims amid cries and mourning. Officials warned the death toll may continue to rise as the scale of destruction becomes clearer.

The targeting of educational infrastructure — particularly during school hours — has intensified debates over international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians in armed conflicts.

Sources: The Guardian, BBC, CNN, ABC News