US and Israel Massacre Girls' School in Southern Iran; Iranian Sources Report 40–85 Dead

On Feb. 28, 2026, Iranian state media and multiple outlets reported that a strike hit an elementary/girls’ primary school in Minab, Hormozgan province.

“ALBAWABA - Friday was the latest day of U”

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Harrowing footage and eyewitness accounts showed smoke, dazed onlookers and women wailing at the scene.

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Several sources said the school was directly struck.

TheWire.in described videos from the scene showing "dazed onlookers, plumes of smoke from an upper‑floor classroom and women wailing after an attack on a school."

albawaba said "an elementary girls’ school in Minab… was hit in early-morning strikes Saturday."

Türkiye Today reported "the death toll from an attack on a girls’ primary school in Minab… has risen to 85."

The Economic Times wrote "An Israeli strike in Minab… hit a girls’ primary school."

Casualty figures changed repeatedly throughout the day and differed across reports.

Early counts ranged from five to dozens, then climbed into the dozens and, according to some Iranian state outlets, into the tens of dozens.

Apa.az

TheWire.in documented the evolving tally: 'Initial reports at 4:01 PM put the death toll at five; Tehran Times later reported 24 dead, by 5:44 PM the toll was 41, and Iran’s IRNA (via Anadolu) said deaths had climbed past 51 as rescuers continued digging through rubble.'

Apa.az summarised multiple updates as: 'initial reports said 24 dead, then 40 (IRNA), later counts reached 51, 57, 70 and… a latest toll of 85 killed.'

Türkiye Today noted earlier and varying local counts of 'five, 24, about 40 and later 51 children killed.'

Responsibility for the strike was reported differently across outlets.

“Iran launches retaliatory strikes after Israel attack; Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait on high-alrert- LIVE UPDATES - By Web Desk - - Feb 28, 2026 Tehran: The US and Israel have launched a major combat attack on Iran, the Israeli defence minister said on Saturday”

ARY News

Iranian state media and several agencies attributed the hit to US–Israeli forces.

Other sources noted that neither Washington nor Jerusalem immediately claimed responsibility.

Türkiye Today said the school was hit "in what it described as a U.S.-Israeli strike."

The Economic Times stated "The strikes on Iran were carried out by the US and Israel."

NewsX noted "Neither the United States nor Israel has publicly claimed responsibility."

Tempo.co reported that "Two U.S. officials told NBC News that Israel’s strikes targeted Iranian leaders while U.S. strikes focused on Iran’s ballistic and nuclear missile program."

The school strike occurred amid a broader campaign of strikes across Iran and a sharp regional escalation.

Sources reported Iranian retaliatory missile and drone attacks as part of that escalation.

Daijiworld

News18 reported joint US‑Israel airstrikes across Iran and said the Minab school was damaged.

NEWS.am said a major regional escalation unfolded after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, prompting large-scale Iranian retaliation with ballistic missiles and armed drones.

Tempo.co described Iran’s retaliation as missiles launched at northern Israel and Gulf countries hosting U.S. forces.

Mint noted practical effects on travel, saying airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel and Bahrain was almost empty with widespread flight cancellations.

Rescue, medical and verification efforts continued amid urgent humanitarian concern, but independent confirmation of casualty figures and other claims remained limited.

“Latest Update Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran Tehran, Feb 28: In a development that has intensified global concern over the escalating conflict in West Asia, Israeli airstrikes reportedly hit two schools in Iran, killing more than 50 people, including students, according to state media reports”

Daijiworld

NewsX reported "at least 45 people wounded," Türkiye Today cited the county governor saying "about 60 students were wounded," and albawaba said state TV reported the strike "killing at least 40 students and injuring dozens."

Daily Observer

The Daily Star emphasised conflicting claims and verification limits, writing: "Overall the situation involves conflicting claims and has not been fully independently verified."

Business Standard noted that IRNA’s casualty figures came from Iranian state media and "have not been independently verified in this report."

The outlets' casualty figures differ and remain unverified, creating contradictions among reports.