US and Israel Strike Girls' School in Southern Iran; Iran Reports 40–85 Dead

An early-morning strike hit a girls’ primary/elementary school in Minab, in southern Hormozgan province, Iran, and rescue teams searched the rubble.

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Iranian state media and judicial sources reported a rapidly rising and disputed death toll.

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Türkiye Today reported that Iranian state media said the death toll had risen to 85.

The New Arab said the judiciary reported the death toll had risen to 85 and that the government said the strikes were carried out by the US and Israel.

Albawaba reported that State TV said the school was directly struck, killing at least 40 students and injuring dozens.

Eyewitness and local reporting documented dazed onlookers, plumes of smoke from an upper-floor classroom, and women wailing, according to TheWire.in.

These accounts are contradictory on the death toll, with different outlets reporting 85 and at least 40 student fatalities.

Casualty figures varied widely across state and international outlets through the day, with numbers cited ranging from the tens to double digits and repeatedly revised upward as searches continued.

Haberler reported that the death toll rose to 64, previously reported as 51.

Apa.az

APA (cited by Apa.az) documented a sequence of counts: initial reports said 24 dead, then 40 (IRNA), later counts reached 51, 57, 70 and a latest toll of 85 killed and 92 injured.

The Associated Press, cited by WTOP, gave an earlier IRNA figure of 40 for the death toll from a US-Israeli strike on a girls' school in southern Iran.

News18 reported that Iranian state media said joint US‑Israel airstrikes across Iran killed at least 85 people, including students and children.

Iranian authorities and state outlets attributed a school strike to U.S. and Israeli military action as part of coordinated strikes across Iran, but independent verification and formal claims of responsibility were inconsistent.

“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”

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NewsX noted, "Neither the United States nor Israel has publicly claimed responsibility, though a US–Israeli coalition earlier carried out strikes across Iran on military, government and intelligence sites."

Tempo.co English reported on differing operational aims, quoting NBC: "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 Daily Star summarized competing claims that Israeli attacks may have killed several senior Iranian officials and noted Tehran's denials, quoting Iran’s foreign minister as saying senior leaders are alive.

News.am framed the events as "a major regional escalation" after the strikes.

The strikes triggered wide regional retaliation, air‑defence interceptions and civilian impacts beyond Iran, with states reporting missile attacks or debris and several transport hubs suspended.

Tempo.co English said Iran retaliated with strikes "at northern Israel and Gulf countries hosting U.S. forces," and that "At least one person was killed in Abu Dhabi; Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan reported missile attacks or interceptions."

Daijiworld

Mint described explosions across the region and noted that "UAE authorities said they intercepted missiles and one person was killed in Abu Dhabi," adding that "global airlines suspended flights across the region."

The Daily Observer’s summary listed strikes and interceptions across Gulf states and said the UN rights chief "deplored the strikes by Israel and the US and Iran’s retaliatory strikes," urging de‑escalation.

Multiple outlets warned that key details remain unverified and evolving, and international actors called for restraint while investigations and casualty accounting continued.

“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”

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The Daily Star underscored that 'Casualty reports and damage remain unverified' and said the situation involved 'conflicting claims and has not been fully independently verified'.

Daily Observer

The Daily Observer quoted Iran’s deputy foreign minister calling the timing 'deeply troubling' and reported that UN rights chief Volker Türk 'deplored the strikes' and urged de-escalation.

Views Bangladesh relayed local officials saying 'an Israeli air strike on a girls’ school in Minab ... has killed 51 people' and noted rescue teams warned 'the toll could rise,' reflecting the broader uncertainty in counts and responsibility.