A devastating explosion struck a girls’ elementary school in southern Iran on February 28, 2026, leaving at least 108 people dead and many others injured. The tragic incident occurred in the city of Minab, located in Hormozgan province, during a period of intense military escalation in the region.
The blast hit the Shajare Tayyebeh Elementary School for girls, causing massive destruction and panic among residents. Emergency teams rushed to the scene as rescue operations began immediately after the explosion. Authorities reported heavy casualties, with many victims believed to be students and school staff.
The explosion took place at the same time as large-scale airstrikes were being carried out across Iran by the United States and Israel. Several areas of the country were reportedly targeted during the coordinated military operation, increasing tensions and fear among civilians.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian strongly condemned the incident, calling it a “barbaric act” and describing it as “another black page in the record of countless crimes committed by the aggressors.” Iranian officials stated that the school was located near a base belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, which had been among the targets of the strikes.
However, there has been no official confirmation from the United States or Israel regarding any attack on the school itself. International observers say the exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
The Iranian Red Crescent reported that across the country, at least 201 people were killed and 747 others injured during the wider wave of airstrikes. Medical teams and rescue workers have been deployed to affected areas to assist victims and provide emergency care.
Officials from the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva confirmed that response teams were mobilized quickly and sent to the damaged school to support rescue efforts and humanitarian assistance.
The incident has intensified global concern over civilian safety as the regional conflict continues to escalate. International organizations are urging restraint and calling for measures to protect civilians, especially children, as tensions in the Middle East remain dangerously high.