On 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran. The Amnesty International report focuses specifically on the airstrike that hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, Hormozgan province. The attack triggered a sharp escalation between the parties and was strongly condemned by the United Nations Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Satellite images and video footage verified by Amnesty International indicate that the airstrike took place during the morning, killing 156 civilians, including teachers, parents, and at least 120 children. The building was adjacent to an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) compound, suggesting that the US acted on outdated intelligence and failed to take necessary precautions to avoid targeting civilian objects, thereby violating international humanitarian law (IHL). As Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty’s Senior Director, pointed out, US authorities either exhibited gross negligence or knowingly launched the airstrike without taking feasible precautions - such as executing the attack at night when the building was empty. In the aftermath, independent media and human rights organisations verified that the school had been physically separated from the military compound since at least 2016, highlighting that US forces should have easily verified its status before the strike. For this reason, Amnesty International has demanded an impartial, independent investigation by the US and the prosecution of all responsible parties under IHL.
To analyse the incident, Amnesty International used a combination of forensic analysis and open-source intelligence (OSINT). Through its Evidence Lab, the organisation reviewed over 30 satellite images, 28 videos, and 30 photos of the school and the adjacent compound spanning more than a decade, making it possible to track physical changes to the site over time. Specifically, satellite data confirms that since at least 2016, the building housing the school had been physically separated from the IRGC compound by perimeter walls and distinct entrance gates. Furthermore, between 2023 and 2025, satellite imagery captured the school in active operation, showing painted playground markings on the grounds and civilians at the exit. Although unable to speak directly to primary witnesses and victims’ families due to an internet shutdown imposed by the Iranian government, Amnesty International reviewed official statements from Iranian, Israeli, and US authorities, independent media reports, and interviewed three individuals in the area. Among these testimonies were accounts from Sohrab (an alias used for security reasons) and Shiva Amelirad, a representative of the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, both of whom reported that by the time most families reached the site, the school had already been struck.
According to Amnesty International's research, the school was located in a suburb of Minab near a compound used by the Sayyid al-Shohada Missile Brigade of the IRGC Navy, which is responsible for coastal defence in southern Iran. Inside the compound were several military structures; the building housing the school had originally served as the command headquarters before being converted into an educational facility for both the children of IRGC personnel and local low-income families. Official Iranian sources state that the attack occurred at 10:45 a.m. and that the school was hit directly, rather than sustaining collateral damage from missiles aimed at other buildings in the compound. In the days following the attack, videos published by the state-run Mehr News Agency, and subsequently verified by Amnesty International, showed the missile's impact and corroborated the findings of a forensic pathologist consulted by the organisation, who identified visible remains as those of children who suffered traumatic blast injuries. During a press briefing on 2 March 2026, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine confirmed the launch of Tomahawk missiles in southern Iran, indicating affected locations on a map, including Minab. From an IHL perspective, Amnesty International points out that even if US authorities believed the building was still part of the military compound, the failure to verify its civilian status and the reliance on outdated intelligence violate the fundamental obligation to take all feasible precautions. Consequently, as highlighted by an analysis from the International Crisis Group, the US cannot invoke self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter, as broad claims of military necessity can never legally override core obligations under IHL. In addition, this operational failure was underscored by the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission, which concluded that the US airstrike was indiscriminate and constituted a violation of IHL due to a failure to verify active intelligence and update targeting databases.
In light of these findings, Amnesty International calls on US authorities to conduct an impartial investigation evaluating the intelligence collection and assessment techniques used at every stage of the operation, including the potential role of artificial intelligence. Victims and their families are entitled to truth, justice, and full reparation. Following the airstrike, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting during which US and Israeli representatives defended the operation as an act of necessity, while Iran's representative denounced it as an unprovoked and premeditated aggression. These contrasting views reflect a deep division within the Council, made even more acute by the US veto power over any resolution opposing its interests. As noted by Richard Gowan in his analysis for the International Crisis Group, most Council members avoided direct criticism of the US-Israeli operation, signalling key geopolitical alignments. Amnesty International also reported on the response of Iranian authorities, who exploited the tragedy for state propaganda through the intimidation and coercion of victims' families and survivors - tactics that could violate IHL prohibitions against torture and inhumane or degrading treatment. Ultimately, leaving these operational failures and state abuses unaddressed risks setting a dangerous precedent for international legal protections in modern conflict.
