Elementary School Devastated in Southern Iran Attack
Iranian state television broadcast images on February 28 showing what it described as the aftermath of US and Israeli strikes that targeted a girls' elementary school in Minab, southern Iran. The broadcast footage revealed extensive damage to the educational facility, with smoke rising from collapsed structures and debris scattered across the surrounding area.
Mass Casualty Event at Shajareh Tayyebeh School
According to Iran's IRNA news agency, at least 80 children were killed in the strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh all-girls' school, with dozens more students reported missing and unaccounted for. The attack occurred on Saturday morning as parents had just dropped off their children for classes, only to find themselves racing back to school gates as bombs began falling across multiple regions of the country.
Video evidence circulating on social media purportedly shows the immediate aftermath of the strike, with hundreds of onlookers gathering at the site in visible distress. Persian fact-checking service Factnameh cross-referenced the video with other photographs of the school location and concluded the footage was authentic. Reuters news agency also verified the video as originating from the school site.
School Adjacent to Military Installation
The elementary school appears to be located adjacent to a Revolutionary Guards barracks, raising questions about the targeting of the educational facility. If confirmed, the school bombing would represent the largest mass casualty event of the US-led military operations against Iran to date. The Guardian noted that the bombing report, death toll, and video source could not be immediately independently verified.
Nationwide Reactions to Sustained Attacks
Across Iran, citizens reported experiencing a complex mixture of terror and hope as the bombings continued throughout Saturday. Some expressed relief that long-expected strikes had finally arrived, while opponents of the regime spoke cautiously about potential political change. These sentiments were universally tempered by profound fear that the attacks would bring additional civilian deaths to a country already reeling from recent bloodshed.
Tehran Residents Describe Chaotic Scenes
In the capital city, some residents sheltered in their homes while others navigated gridlocked traffic attempting to reach their children as schools shut down abruptly. Many Tehran residents revealed they had been preparing for possible conflict for weeks, stockpiling water and essential supplies in anticipation of military escalation.
Amir, a 37-year-old bakery owner in Tehran who requested anonymity, expressed conflicted emotions about the strikes. "My worry is that innocent people will be killed," he stated, noting that while he felt relief that government buildings appeared targeted, he feared significant collateral damage. Amir had family members injured during the Iranian regime's recent crackdown on nationwide protests and anticipated further bloodshed.
Student Perspectives on the Conflict
Moein, a 21-year-old University of Tehran student involved in recent protests, reported hearing loud explosions near the university campus. Having lost two friends in the government's protest crackdown, he posed a poignant question: "When weapons come from the US, do they strike us more gently than when they come from the regime's killing machines?"
The student described an apprehensive but not panicked atmosphere in Tehran, noting that while residents had stockpiled essentials, ordinary citizens lacked access to bomb shelters. He and others reported intermittent difficulties accessing state media, though it remained unclear whether this resulted from cyber-attacks or websites being overwhelmed by traffic.
Political Context and Military Escalation
The attacks unfolded amid ongoing diplomatic negotiations between Iran and the United States, approximately seven weeks after Tehran violently suppressed nationwide anti-regime demonstrations. According to the US-based Human Rights Activist news agency, which has been documenting casualties, more than 7,000 people have been confirmed dead in the protests, with over 11,000 additional deaths still under investigation.
Trump Announces "Major Combat Operations"
US President Donald Trump announced the initiation of "major combat operations" against Iran on Saturday morning, urging Iranian citizens to rise up and "take over your government." The United States had significantly built up its military presence in the region over recent weeks in preparation for potential conflict.
Mehnaz, a 27-year-old Tehran resident living near government administrative buildings, reported hearing loud explosions around 9am during breakfast. "It's a strange feeling," she described, "both fear and hope for the end of the regime." The initial strikes appeared to target areas close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's offices and compound.
Contrasting Views Among Iranian Citizens
Mohsen, a 25-year-old IT worker in Tehran who witnessed friends killed during protest crackdowns, expressed defiance despite concerns about foreign intervention. "Thanks to the regime and its killing machine, we have already seen what a war zone feels like," he stated, reflecting the complex perspectives among Iranians facing both domestic repression and international military action.
The joint US-Israel military operation represents a significant escalation in regional tensions, with civilian infrastructure including schools now reportedly caught in the crossfire. As verification efforts continue and casualty numbers potentially rise, the international community watches closely while Iranian families mourn losses and brace for further uncertainty.
