MINAB, Iran — The once‑bright blue‑gated Shajareh Tayyebeh school will never reopen as an educational facility. Its gate still bears the map of Iran, oversized pencils and portraits of literary and scientific legends, but the building now serves as a solemn memorial to the children killed in the earliest attacks of the war that began on Feb. 28.
Photographs line the walkway, showing children at birthday parties and everyday moments, followed by small faces on black mourning banners. The two‑story structure remains frozen in a mid‑lesson scene, with desks half‑buried and ceilings collapsed, a stark reminder of the devastation.
Casualties and Ongoing Investigation
Iranian officials reported that more than 100 students lost their lives when the school was struck. An Associated Press investigation later found evidence that at least one U.S. missile hit the school, though the Trump administration has not formally accepted responsibility or released the Pentagon’s findings.
Recent U.S. strikes along Iran’s southern coast, which hit a wedding venue and other areas, have again drawn attention to Minab, sending some injured to a local hospital.
Plans for Preservation
Hormozgan Governor Mohammad Ashouri Taziani announced that the ruined school will be converted into a war museum and memorial, preserving the site as a historical record of the conflict. Adjacent to the school, a section of Minab’s cemetery has been dedicated to the victims, with families quietly walking across the artificial‑grass grave‑marked area.
Residents say three bodies have yet to be recovered, underscoring the lingering trauma for the community.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
