U.N. Condemns U.S. Airstrike on Iranian School
On February 28, 2026, a U.S. airstrike targeted the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran. The attack resulted in the deaths of 157 individuals, including numerous children and educators. The aftermath has turned the site into a memorial for the victims.
Last week, as President Trump addressed the United Nations General Assembly, promising to “annihilate” Iran, the U.N. Human Rights Council released a report indicating “reasonable grounds to believe” the U.S. committed war crimes during this strike. Trump’s address showed contempt for the U.N. principles, dismissed international law, and neglected human dignity. His remarks highlighted his belief that power and force determine global dominance.
Trump claimed, “I have used strength to make America the most powerful country in the world,” accompanied by his acknowledgment that “to the victor belong the spoils.”
The U.N. Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, countered, emphasizing the international choice between governance by law or force, and cooperation versus coercion.
The report detailed the U.S. military’s deliberate targeting of the school, contradicting claims of collateral damage or mistaken strikes. Accounts revealed two successive strikes, with the first prompting the evacuation to higher floors, followed by a second strike that proved fatal. This tragedy resulted in 123 children dying, many aged 13 or younger, alongside 26 female educators, seven parents, a bus driver, and a local pharmacy technician.
Despite the horrifying details and evidence, the U.S. has not accepted responsibility, with Trump attempting deflection by blaming Tehran. The International Criminal Court has historically indicted global leaders for war crimes, raising concerns for Trump and his administration.
Efforts to bring attention to the lives lost and the nature of their deaths continue, though many reports on such tragedies often lack scrutiny, leaving the public detached from the grim realities of war. The U.N. report offered vivid depictions of the human cost, including satellite images and survivor testimonies, revealing the severe impact of the attack on the community.