On 28 February 2026, the Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school in Minab, in the province of Hormozgan, southern Iran, was hit during school hours, killing dozens of civilians, including many children. The attack, which took place as part of numerous raids carried out throughout Iran by Israeli and US forces, was the subject of an in-depth analysis conducted by Human Rights Watch (HRW) in collaboration with experts and investigative units from the organisation itself, such as the Digital Investigations Lab.
The analysis was based on fourteen videos and photographs posted on social media and recorded immediately after the attack or during rescue operations, as well as four pieces of visual material from the funeral ceremonies. The report was supplemented by approximately forty publicly available satellite images collected over the past twenty-five years, along with additional commercial images acquired after the attack showing the site that was hit and the nearby cemetery where the victims were buried. In addition to photographic and satellite evidence, statements from the Iranian Red Crescent and government officials from Iran, Israel and the United States, along with independent media reports, were taken into account to obtain further details about the attack.
According to reconstructions, the attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School, located within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) compound in Minab, involved a series of explosions that directly affected at least eight buildings, including the school itself. Satellite images and verified videos showed partial roof collapses, columns of smoke and substantial damage to other structures, including the complex's clinic, demonstrating the effects of a large-scale attack that did not take into account the presence of civilians. The distribution of the impact points and the traces left by the munitions indicated the use of high-precision guided munitions, directed at specific buildings, and not the result of errors or malfunctions.
The human consequences of the attack mainly affected children and school staff. Sources cited by HRW confirmed at least 168 casualties, including approximately 48 children, and dozens of injuries. Photographic and video documentation showed bodies in the rubble, ambulances arriving and immediate rescue operations, while the Minab cemetery recorded the rapid digging of numerous graves, some dug with heavy machinery, to accommodate the victims. Verification of the names available made it possible to identify only some of the pupils, teachers and school staff involved among the victims.
The gravity of the incident is even more evident from an analysis of previous structural changes to the school, such as the construction of a dividing wall and a separate entrance, which had effectively separated the building from areas used for military operations. The use of separate routes and the absence of military personnel in the school clearly indicated that it did not perform any operational functions, thus making it a civilian facility. The lack of warning, combined with the non-military nature of the structure, contributed to the high mortality rate of the attack. HRW's attempts to obtain answers from the military authorities of the countries involved have been evaded or ignored, creating a lack of accountability among the parties involved.
The evidence points to an attack with high-precision munitions that struck civilian buildings and caused significant human casualties, constituting potential violations of international rules on armed conflict. Even if the school had been used for military activities, attacks on military targets are prohibited if the expected damage to civilians and civilian objects is disproportionate to the military advantage expected from the attack. Analysis of the explosions and their human consequences suggests that independent investigations are needed to ascertain responsibility and potential war crimes, assessing whether foreseeable risks to civilians and protected infrastructure were ignored. The protection of schools and civilian infrastructure is crucial to reducing future casualties and ensuring that military operations comply with fundamental principles of international law.
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