Iran-Iraq War: Minab School Under Fire – 1980s Tragedy

A U.S. military strike on a primary school in Minab, Hormozgan province, Iran, on February 28 resulted in the deaths of at least 168 people, including approximately 120 children, according to Iranian authorities. Investigations suggest the attack may have been the result of outdated intelligence and could constitute a violation of international humanitarian law.

School Background and Initial Strike

The Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school served boys and girls aged 7 to 12. The school building was located in an area that was formerly part of a Revolutionary Guards naval base, but had been separated from the military compound by a wall for several years. Iranian officials state the school was privately run.

The first strike occurred around 10 a.m., while students were on break. The explosion destroyed roughly half of one of the school’s buildings. Teachers gathered surviving children in the school’s prayer hall and contacted parents.

Second Strike and Rising Casualties

Shortly after the first strike, a second missile hit the same building, killing many of the remaining children, teachers, and parents who had arrived at the scene. Iranian officials report a total of three strikes on the school.

Images released by Iranian media depicted rescue workers recovering remains, severed limbs, and children’s belongings from the rubble. Authorities report 168 fatalities, including around 120 children, along with nearly 100 injuries.

The Norway-based human rights group Hengaw has independently identified 58 victims, including 48 children and 10 adults.

Victims Remembered

Among those killed were three members of their school’s skating team: Mahdis Nazari, 7, and Sonar and Niayesh Salehi, both 9. Photos of the girls at training sessions and competitions were shared online prior to the attack.

Nine-year-old Mikail Mirdoraghi, a third-grade student, is also among the victims. A photograph of him waving goodbye before leaving for school has been widely circulated. His mother identified his body after the attack, finding him lying beside a friend, still clutching his school backpack.

Mikail had reportedly made a drawing the night before the strike depicting the school building, five children, and three descending missiles. The drawing was found in his backpack after the attack.

His grandfather reportedly said, “Mikail was afraid of the dark. We always slept beside him. I don’t want him to be alone here at night.”

An internal U.S. military review has indicated American forces were likely responsible for the attack. Research by Amnesty International suggests U.S. authorities could have known the building was a school and failed to take precautions to avoid civilian harm, potentially constituting an indiscriminate attack.