Who Bombed the Iranian Girls’ School, Killing More Than 170?
As the US-Israel war on Iran enters its third week, the deadliest single attack remains a flashpoint, with evidence pointing to US responsibility despite denials.
On February 28, during the opening hours of the joint US-Israel assault on Iran, a missile struck the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school in the southern coastal city of Minab, killing more than 170 people most of them young schoolgirls between the ages of 7 and 12.
The attack stands as the bloodiest single incident of the conflict so far, and questions over who carried it out have become a totemic issue amid the fog of war.
What We Know
The school was located adjacent to a naval base belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a strategic site near the Strait of Hormuz. Verified video footage and satellite imagery show a US Tomahawk missile striking the area, with the school suffering devastating damage consistent with a precision strike.
Open-source analysts have confirmed the proximity of the school to the military target, noting that the blast radius of a Tomahawk missile would inevitably engulf the surrounding civilian area.
Who Is Responsible?
Since the attack, both the United States and Israel have sought to distance themselves from the killings.
- United States: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged the incident is under investigation, stating, “We’re investigating that.” US officials have suggested preliminary findings indicate the strike may have been a mistake, possibly using outdated intelligence. However, the US has not formally accepted responsibility.
- Israel: Israeli officials have explicitly denied any involvement in the Minab school strike, stating their operations that day focused on other targets.
Despite these denials, mounting evidence including the missile type, launch trajectories, and target coordinates points overwhelmingly toward US responsibility. Military analysts note that Tomahawk missiles are a primary platform for US strikes, and the IRGC base adjacent to the school was a confirmed US target.
Iran’s Response
Iranian officials have condemned the attack as a war crime. Iran’s envoy to the United Nations presented evidence to the Security Council, calling for international condemnation and accountability.
International Reaction
More than 40 US Senators have demanded a full investigation and transparency from the Pentagon. Human rights organizations have called for an independent inquiry into the civilian casualties, warning that the attack may constitute a violation of international humanitarian law.
At the Cemetery
Workmen had prepared rows of small graves at a cemetery located about five miles from the school. The aerial photographs of these prepared graves, which went viral, were described by many as the most heartbreaking images since the conflict began .
Conclusion
While both Washington and Tel Aviv have attempted to distance themselves from the Minab school massacre, the weight of evidence suggests the United States was responsible for the strike that killed over 170 girls. The incident has become a symbol of the human cost of the widening war and a rallying point for outrage across the region.
Source: Al Jazeera
