More than 270 children have been killed in Iran and across the Middle East since hostilities escalated in the region.
This includes a mass killing at a school full of children in Minab, Iran. The unlawful and deadly U.S. strike killed 168 people, including more than 100 children, and those responsible must be held accountable.
Intelligence failure and indiscriminate attack
Research by our Iran team and Amnesty’s Crisis Evidence Lab indicates that the U.S. authorities could—and should—have known it was a school building, and failed to take feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm. This points to a shameful intelligence failure on the part of the U.S. military at best. On the other hand, if an investigation were to show that the U.S. military knew the school was adjacent to the IRGC compound and proceeded to attack without taking all feasible precautions, it would be a reckless and indiscriminate attack.
Either way, the attack is a serious breach of international humanitarian law.
Help prevent further harm and atrocities
Urge your members in Congress to protect civilians and end unlawful attacks.
Amnesty research includes video footage, photos of munition remnants, satellite imagery, and interviews with three independent sources with direct information about the school missile attack. Our researchers determined that an air strike using a precision-guided weapon (a Tomahawk missile) hit Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School on the morning of February 28th, killing and injuring civilians, including children, parents, and teachers.
“The principals and teachers stayed to get the children out. Most of them were killed. People did not imagine that a school within the city would be hit.”
Sohrab (whose real name is withheld for safety and security), a resident of Minab
Those responsible must be held accountable
We’re working to hold U.S. authorities accountable to ensure the investigation they’ve announced is impartial, independent, and transparent— and that the result of the investigation is made public. Those responsible for planning and executing this unlawful attack must be held to account.
Victims and their families have the right to truth and justice. They should receive full reparation, including restitution, rehabilitation, and compensation for civilian harm.
This attack on a school full of children is a harrowing example of how civilians pay the price of an armed conflict. International law makes it clear: Civilians must never be targeted, yet we can see this happening over and over again, with tragic consequences.
We are continuing our investigations
Our teams across the Middle East are continuing to analyze and verify evidence and leveraging our independence and expertise to ensure the truth is reported and those responsible are held accountable.
As the U.S. and Israel continue their joint attacks, and Iran responds with strikes across the region, we refuse to look away while more children and families are killed.
Take action now to demand that Congress protect civilians and prevent more atrocities.