Over 100 Children Killed in Airstrike on Iranian School
An airstrike on a girls' school in Minab, southern Iran, has reportedly killed over 100 children, sparking widespread condemnation and threats of retaliation. The strike, which is part of an offensive launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, targeted the Shajareh Tayyebeh school and resulted in one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the ongoing conflict.
The Attack
On Saturday, February 28, 2026, the school was reportedly hit by a missile during broad daylight, causing a significant number of casualties. According to various sources, the death toll has ranged from 40 to over 160, with the majority of victims being young girls aged seven to 12. The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported over 200 people killed in the attacks, and numerous residential buildings were damaged.
An eyewitness told Middle East Eye about the horrifying aftermath, describing bodies of young girls lying on classroom benches and in different corners of the school. Dozens of innocent children have been murdered at this site alone,
said Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, condemning the attack as a crime against the Iranian people.
International Response and Retaliation Threats
The strike, which Iranian authorities confirmed was carried out by Israeli missiles, has been broadly condemned. Araghchi called it a gross violation of the basic principles of the UN Charter, while President Masoud Pezeshkian labeled it a barbaric crime
. Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei promised that the Iranian Armed Forces would definitely retaliate.
A senior Iranian official told Al Jazeera that all political targets are now within the scope of Iran's response and warned that there are no red lines in defending our country
. He further declared that everything American or Israeli has become a legitimate target for the Iranian armed forces.
Political Divide in the US
The unilateral decision by US President Donald Trump to launch strikes against Iran met a mixed response in Congress. While Republicans broadly support Trump, Democrats criticized his “major combat operation” as an undeclared war and are seeking to stop the campaign under the 1973 War Powers Act.
Ahead of Nuclear Talks
The strikes came ahead of a new round of negotiations between Tehran and Washington on Iran's nuclear program. With Washington amassing military force in the Middle East, hopes for a breakthrough in the talks are slim.
Conclusion
The strike on the school in Minab marks a significant escalation in the conflict between Iran and the US-Israeli alliance. As the death toll continues to rise and the Iranian government vows retaliation, the region braces for potential further violence. Amid these tensions, the fate of the upcoming nuclear talks remains uncertain.