Iran Girls' School Bombing: A Visual Guide to the Deadly Strike Aftermath
In the aftermath of a devastating strike, debris lies scattered across a girls' school in Iran, marking the worst mass casualty event of the ongoing US-Israeli war. The bombing of Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab, southern Iran, has left up to 168 people dead, with verified footage and images piecing together a harrowing account of the incident.
The Scene of Destruction
Above the pastel murals depicting trees, paintbrushes, crayons, and microscopes, black smoke rises ominously. The force of the blast has blown out the glass windows of the school, leaving curtains hanging shredded from the frames. Against a burned-out wall, the remains of a playground are scattered, including a red plastic slide and a jumble of child-sized chairs. On an overturned bookshelf, a pair of pink plastic sandals sit neatly placed, now covered in dust from the explosion.
The missile struck during the school's morning session. In Iran, the school week runs from Saturday to Thursday, so when US and Israeli bombs began falling at around 10 a.m. on Saturday, classes were fully underway. Between 10 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., a missile directly hit Shajareh Tayyebeh school, demolishing its concrete building and killing dozens of girls aged seven to twelve.
Verified Footage and Graphic Details
Photographs and verified videos from the site, which have not been published due to their graphic nature, show children's bodies partly buried under the debris. In one video, a very small child's severed arm is pulled from the rubble. Colourful backpacks, covered with blood and concrete dust, sit among the ruins. One girl wears a green dress with gingham patches on her pockets and collar, her form partly obscured by a black body bag, while screams echo in the background.
A distraught man stands in the ruins, waving textbooks and worksheets as rescuers dig by hand through the debris. "These are the schoolbooks of the children who are under these ruins, under this rubble here," he shouts. "You can see the blood of these children on these books. These are civilians, who are not in the military. This was a school and they came to study."
Casualty Figures and Verification Challenges
According to Iranian state media, up to 168 people were killed by the strike, with 95 injured—figures that have not been independently verified. With independent reporting severely restricted in Iran and internet blackouts widespread, the Guardian used verified video footage, geolocated images, satellite imagery, and interviews to compile a detailed account. This bombing has been described by UNESCO as a "grave violation" of international law.
The Guardian cross-referenced verified videos with satellite imagery to confirm the school's location. Shajareh Tayyebeh school was adjacent to a cluster of buildings forming the local Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) barracks and support facilities, including a medical clinic and a cultural complex. However, there is no indication that the school served military purposes; it was walled off from the IRGC compound, with colourful murals visible in satellite imagery.
School Demographics and Community Impact
Shiva Amelirad, a Canada-based representative of the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Associations, explained that the school was not exclusively for military families. It enrolled many children from the local community, particularly those who could not afford private school fees. "Because its tuition was lower than many other private schools, and due to the high overcrowding in public schools, ordinary families had been compelled to enrol their children there," Amelirad said.
Early videos from the scene show thick smoke rising from at least one nearby building, supporting the assertion that the school was hit as part of strikes targeting the IRGC complex. The US military stated it was "looking into" the bombing, with spokesperson Capt Tim Hawkins noting awareness of reports concerning civilian harm. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the US "would not deliberately target a school."
Timing and Aftermath
Iranian authorities issued orders for schools to close shortly after the US-Israeli attack began at 9:40 a.m. It remains unclear whether the bomb hit before warnings reached Minab or just after, leaving parents with little time to act. Amelirad reported that the time between the closure announcement and the explosion was very short, so families had not yet arrived to pick up their children.
The death toll overwhelmed local resources. Amelirad noted, "Due to the limited capacity of the hospital morgue, refrigerated vehicles have reportedly been used to store the bodies of the victims." The school's headteacher was among the dead, and casualties included students, parents, and staff, with some families losing multiple children.
Misinformation and Broader Context
Shortly after the attack, misinformation spread online, with false claims that footage was from Pakistan or that the school was hit by a misfired IRGC missile. These have been debunked, with evidence showing the misfire occurred far from Minab.
The US-led war on Iran has already caused a high civilian toll. The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported at least 555 people killed across the country, while the US-based Human Rights Activist news agency cited at least 742 civilian deaths, including 176 children. UNESCO called for all parties to protect schools, students, and teachers, stating that killing pupils in a learning environment violates international humanitarian law.
For Minab, a small town near the Sea of Oman reliant on agriculture like date and citrus cultivation, the loss of up to 168 young girls is devastating. Amelirad highlighted, "Among the victims were children from many different families. In some cases, more than one child from the same family lost their lives."
