The building was destroyed, but a few brightly painted walls still remind us of the school.Image: keystone
At least 165 people were killed in an attack on a girls’ school in southern Iran. It is not yet certain who is responsible.
Mar 2, 2026, 1:46 p.mMar 2, 2026, 1:46 p.m
The attack
The primary school in the city of Minab in southern Iran was attacked on Saturday. The building was destroyed in an explosion and the number of victims has now risen to 165 people, Iranian state media report. Most of them are children. Numerous people were also injured.
In the rubble, helpers and desperate relatives found bloody school books and backpacks covered in ash. Body bags were deposited in a row. The attack shocked. Not even in Gaza were so many students killed at the same time, says Pirhossein Kolivand, head of the Iranian Red Crescent, according to the New York Times.
Backpacks found in the rubble.Image: www.imago-images.de
Who is behind the attack?
That wasn’t clear at first. The school is located in the immediate vicinity of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards naval base. An analysis of the New York Times shows that the building was still part of the military area in 2013, but was separated from it in 2016 and is located around 600 meters away. Since the base was also said to have been damaged, the attack was probably aimed at him.
But who attacked? Israel has not yet commented on this. It was later said that there were no known Israeli or American attacks in the area. The USA wanted to investigate the reports, this site said. The protection of the civilian population has the highest priority.
Some people also accuse Iran itself of being behind the attack. There is great distrust in the government. The regime is accused of failing to issue a warning. The internet and telephone lines also don’t work. President Masoud Pezeshkian called the attack a “barbaric act,” reports BBC. He blamed the “aggressors.”
Relatives and helpers are looking for missing people.Image: keystone
The reactions
UNESCO strongly condemned the attack. The killing of students in a place dedicated to learning constitutes a serious violation of the protection afforded to schools under international humanitarian law, a statement said. Such attacks would undermine the right to education.
UNESCO is deeply alarmed by the impact of the ongoing military escalation in the Middle East on educational institutions, students, and educational personnel.
Initial reports indicate that an attack on a girls’ primary school in Minab, southern Iran, has resulted in the deaths of… pic.twitter.com/RGaqrUetFA
— UNESCO #Education #Sciences #Culture (@UNESCO) March 1, 2026
The Center for Civilians in Conflict, a non-profit organization from the USA, also called for de-escalation and restraint. She also called for measures to protect the civilian population and civil infrastructure.
The Hengaw Human Rights Organization calls on all parties involved to ensure the protection of civilians, especially children. Military installations near schools and public places increased the risk to civilians. According to international humanitarian law, it is forbidden to use civilian areas as a shield for military buildings. The fact that children are used as human shields violates the principles of international humanitarian law, it said in a statement. Such behavior could be viewed as a war crime.