A United States missile strike destroyed the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, on 28 February 2026, killing 156 civilians in one of the deadliest single attacks of the Iran war. Those killed included 120 schoolchildren, 26 teachers, seven parents, a school bus driver, a pharmacy technician, and an unborn child, according to Iranian authorities and independent reporting.
The attack occurred during morning classes. After the initial explosion, which tore through part of the school, surviving students were moved by teachers to an interior prayer room believed to be safer. Staff urgently contacted parents, many of whom rushed to the school or were already on their way to collect their children. Before they could arrive, follow‑up U.S. missile strikes hit the same location, directly striking the sheltering area and killing many of the children who had survived the first blast, along with teachers and parents who had come to help.
Independent satellite analysis, verified video footage, and preliminary findings from U.S. military investigations identified the weapon used as a U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile, confirming American responsibility for the strike, reportedly linked to outdated targeting intelligence. Israel, which coordinated military operations with the United States, denied direct involvement.
UNESCO, United Nations human rights experts, and humanitarian organisations condemned the attack as a grave violation of international humanitarian law. A UN investigation remains ongoing as calls for accountability continue to grow worldwide.