School Tragedy in Minab: Satellite Evidence Points to Airstrike as Over 165 Children Die Amid Intensifying Iran War

Fresh satellite imagery and assessments by conflict analysts indicate that the devastating explosion that levelled a girls’ school in Minab and killed more than 165 people was most likely the result of an aerial bombardment carried out during the ongoing hostilities involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

The powerful blast occurred on February 28 at the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School while classes were in progress.

According to Iranian authorities, the majority of those killed in the explosion were young students attending lessons at the time.

However, US President Donald Trump rejected the suggestion that American forces were responsible and instead alleged that the incident may have been caused by Iranian weaponry.

Speaking to journalists aboard the presidential aircraft Air Force One, Trump said that from what he had seen, the strike appeared to have been carried out by Iran itself.

“I believe Iran was responsible for it,” Trump said, suggesting that Iranian munitions were often inaccurate and could have caused the fatal explosion.

Independent analysis of satellite photographs, however, paints a different picture.

The images show the school structure almost completely shattered, with a curved crater visible in the roof and blast damage extending into nearby areas.

Specialists who examined the images said the destruction pattern resembles that produced by a guided aerial strike rather than a random explosion.

The school is situated next to a compound believed to be associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has been a frequent target during the escalating military confrontation between Washington, Tel Aviv, and Tehran.

High-resolution satellite photos reveal that several buildings within the adjacent compound were struck by explosions.

Craters, shattered structures, and scattered debris are visible across the facility, suggesting that multiple munitions struck the area during the same operation.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that authorities in Washington have opened an inquiry into the incident.

“We are examining the details of what happened,” Hegseth said while responding to questions about the attack. He also claimed that Iran had previously been responsible for attacks that endangered civilians.

Meanwhile, an unnamed American official told investigators that the strike might indeed have been conducted by US forces, though he stressed that the investigation had not yet concluded.

Trump nevertheless dismissed the reports suggesting US involvement and repeated his belief that Iranian forces were responsible.

“We believe Iran carried out the strike. Their weapons systems lack precision, and they often miss intended targets,” he said, reiterating his earlier claims.

Journalists and analysts, however, pointed to the timing of the explosion, which reportedly coincided with a series of airstrikes carried out on a nearby military compound.

The destroyed school stands close to installations linked to the Revolutionary Guard, including facilities used by naval units responsible for operations around the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz.

Researchers studying satellite data say the damage pattern strongly suggests that the bombardment was concentrated on the military compound rather than the school itself.

“All the impact points appear to be clustered inside the compound,” said satellite imagery researcher Corey Scher, who specialises in analysing destruction patterns in war zones.

Nevertheless, the tragedy has triggered global outrage.

The deaths of so many children have drawn sharp criticism from international organisations and human rights groups, who say that attacks destroying schools raise serious concerns under international humanitarian law.

A spokesperson for the United Nations human rights office called for transparency and demanded that the results of the investigation be made public.

“The families of the young girls who lost their lives deserve to know exactly how such a catastrophe occurred,” the spokesperson said.

Mass casualties among children during wartime have shocked the world before.

Similar tragedies were witnessed during conflicts such as the Syrian Civil War and the ongoing Gaza–Israel conflict, where airstrikes on densely populated areas repeatedly led to the deaths of large numbers of children, sparking global debate about the protection of civilians during war.

As investigators continue to analyse satellite imagery, weapon signatures, and battlefield timelines, the destruction of the school in Minab has become one of the most tragic and controversial episodes of the current conflict.

( Featured image shows graves dug up for small girls who were killed in the blast in their school that was caused by aerial bombing)

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