Funerals held after Minab girls’ school strike in Iran

Thousands of people filled the streets of Minab in southern Iran on Tuesday, carrying small coffins draped in national flags. The procession followed a strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school on Saturday 28 February 2026. Iranian officials say more than 160 people were killed, but independent newsrooms are still working to confirm exact numbers. (washingtonpost.com)

Iran’s government blames the United States and Israel for the strike. Asked on Monday 3 March if a US missile hit the school, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States would not deliberately target a school and that the Pentagon was reviewing reports. Israel’s military said it was not aware of any strike at the site. (gmanetwork.com)

What we can see is grim. Verified clips from the aftermath show a partially collapsed building, smoke curling from shattered windows and people searching through rubble. The Washington Post and the Guardian authenticated and geolocated footage from outside the school, supporting that a strike occurred at the named location. (washingtonpost.com)

Location matters for reporting and for law. The school building sits near Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities in Minab; Iranian and wire reports put the distance at roughly 600m, and local officials said three missiles hit on Saturday morning. Because Saturday is a working school day in Iran, classes were likely in session. (reutersconnect.com)

Why aren’t death tolls settled? Independent verification is hard when international journalists face access limits and internet disruptions. Newsrooms will often write “Iran says” until they can confirm names through hospital records, morgues or family lists. The Guardian notes such access problems, and rights monitors report connectivity issues hampering checks. (theguardian.com)

Leaders in Tehran have used stark language. President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the incident as barbaric, and Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted an image showing rows of freshly dug graves with messaging that linked Minab to wider regional violence. These statements are part of the political framing you’ll see alongside the raw grief from families. (tbsnews.net)

What does the law say? Under international humanitarian law, schools are civilian objects and must not be targeted. Warring parties must distinguish civilians from military targets, take all feasible precautions and avoid attacks expected to cause disproportionate harm. UNESCO called the school bombing a grave violation and child-rights groups urged all sides to keep schools and hospitals off‑limits. (ir.icrc.org)

Does proximity to a base remove protection? No. Open‑source analysis suggests the Minab school has been physically separate from a neighbouring IRGC complex for at least a decade; in any case, being near a military site does not by itself make a school a lawful target. Only concrete military use could change its status, and even then, strict rules on precautions and proportionality apply. (aljazeera.com)

Be cautious with viral claims. Posts alleging that Iran admitted the IRGC accidentally struck the school have been debunked by independent fact‑checkers, who found no such confession. Iran’s official line has consistently blamed US‑Israeli strikes, while Washington says it is reviewing reports. (politifact.com)

What to watch next. The UN human‑rights office has called for a prompt, impartial investigation. Expect updates as victim lists are confirmed and investigators assess blast debris, trajectory and satellite imagery. Until then, treat any revised figures carefully and prioritise sources that show their working and name their evidence. (gmanetwork.com)