Who Bombed the Girls’ School in Iran? What We Know About the Minab School Airstrike

On February 28, 2026, a devastating explosion destroyed a girls’ elementary school in Minab, a city in southern Iran. The attack shocked the world and caused international outrage. Many of the victims were young schoolchildren who were in class at the time.

The bombing became one of the deadliest incidents since the beginning of the current conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. However, even weeks after the tragedy, one major question still remains: Who bombed the girls’ school in Iran?

This article explains what happened, what evidence investigators have found, and why there are still many unanswered questions.

Table of Contents

What Happened at the Girls’ School in Minab?

The school that was hit was called Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ Elementary School. It is located in the city of Minab in Hormozgan province, southern Iran.

The strike happened during the school day. In Iran, the school week runs from Saturday to Thursday, so students were already attending classes when the explosion occurred.

Reports say the airstrike happened between 10:00 and 10:45 in the morning. At that time many students were changing classes or attending lessons.

According to Iranian authorities, 168 to 180 people were killed, and most of the victims were girls between 7 and 12 years old.

The explosion destroyed a large section of the two-story school building. Walls collapsed and the roof fell onto classrooms. Many students and teachers were trapped under the rubble.

Videos from the scene showed destroyed classrooms, broken desks, and children’s backpacks covered in dust and debris.

The School Was Near a Military Base

One important fact investigators discovered is that the school was located very close to an Iranian military facility.

The school stood about 600 meters from an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval base.

The nearby base reportedly houses the Asif Brigade of the IRGC Navy, which is connected to missile operations.

Investigators also discovered that the building used as the school was once part of the military compound many years ago. It had been separated from the base and turned into a civilian school more than a decade earlier.

Even though the school was no longer part of the base, its location near military facilities may have made it vulnerable during airstrikes targeting the base.

The Attack Happened During a Larger Military Operation

The bombing of the school did not happen in isolation. It took place during the first wave of attacks in the 2026 Iran war.

On the same day, United States and Israeli forces launched airstrikes against several targets across Iran.

These attacks were reportedly aimed at:

Military bases
Missile launch sites
Naval facilities
Strategic infrastructure

During these operations, several cities across Iran experienced explosions and missile strikes.

The strike on the school occurred while these larger military attacks were taking place.

Evidence Shows Multiple Strikes in the Area

Investigations by journalists and analysts used videos and satellite imagery to understand what happened.

Videos taken shortly after the explosion show several plumes of smoke rising near the school.

This suggests that multiple locations were hit in the same area, not just the school.

Satellite images taken before and after the attack show damage to parts of the nearby military base as well.

Because of this, some analysts believe the school may have been struck during a wider attack targeting the military facility next to it.

Was the School Deliberately Targeted?

This is one of the most controversial questions in the investigation.

Some reports suggest the school may have been hit accidentally during an attack on the nearby military base.

However, other investigators have raised concerns about the possibility that the school itself was targeted.

Witnesses reported that the building may have been hit more than once.

According to rescue workers and local officials, the school may have been struck two or even three times by missiles.

This type of repeated strike is sometimes called a “double tap” or “triple tap.”

If confirmed, it would raise serious questions about whether the school was intentionally targeted.

Who Is Responsible for the Attack?

The most difficult question remains: Who launched the missile that destroyed the school?

Different groups and governments have made different claims.

Iran’s Position

Iranian authorities say the strike was carried out by the United States and Israel as part of their air campaign against Iranian military targets.

Iran has described the attack as a war crime and has asked the international community to investigate.

United States Response

The United States has not confirmed responsibility for the strike.

American officials say they are investigating reports of civilian casualties. Some U.S. officials also said the military does not intentionally target schools or civilian buildings.

Israel’s Response

Israeli military officials have said they are not aware of an Israeli strike in that exact location and have suggested contacting U.S. Central Command for information.

International Investigations

The United Nations and human rights organizations have called for an independent investigation.

They want to determine:

who carried out the attack
whether civilians were deliberately targeted
whether international law was violated

Why the Incident Caused Global Outrage

The bombing of the Minab girls’ school shocked people around the world.

Children are protected under international humanitarian law, which says schools should not be attacked during war.

The United Nations said it was deeply disturbed by the deaths of so many children.

Human rights groups also warned that attacking schools could be considered a war crime if it was intentional.

Many global leaders and activists condemned the strike and demanded accountability.

The Human Impact of the Attack

Beyond politics and investigations, the tragedy has had a devastating impact on families and communities.

Thousands of people attended funerals for the children who died in the explosion.

Videos from Minab showed long lines of small coffins, many decorated with photographs of the victims.

Parents and relatives gathered in grief, carrying flowers and praying for the victims.

The attack destroyed not only a school building but also the lives of many families.

Why There Are Still So Many Theories

Because the investigation is ongoing and no country has officially accepted responsibility, many theories have appeared online.

Some of the theories include:

The school was hit accidentally during a strike on the nearby military base
A missile targeting the base missed its target
The school building was mistaken for part of the military complex
Multiple missiles were fired and one hit the school

Without a full investigation, it is impossible to know which explanation is correct.

What Investigators Are Still Trying to Learn

Experts are still analyzing several types of evidence:

satellite images
missile fragments
radar data
witness testimony
military records

These pieces of evidence could help determine:

which weapon was used
where the missile was launched from
which military force was responsible

Until those answers are confirmed, the exact cause of the attack remains uncertain.

Conclusion

The bombing of the girls’ school in Minab is one of the most tragic events of the current conflict involving Iran.

The attack killed many young students and shocked the international community.

Evidence shows that the school was located near a military base and that multiple strikes occurred in the area during a larger military operation.

Iran says the attack was carried out by the United States and Israel. Those countries have not confirmed responsibility and say the incident is still under investigation.

At this moment, the world still does not have a clear answer to the question: