Iran Says 40 Students Killed In Girls' School After US-Israel Strikes

Last Updated:February 28, 2026, 17:42 IST

Joint strikes by the United States and Israel hit several locations across Iran, with some of the early attacks reported near offices linked to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

At least 40 female students were martyred after a girls’ school in southern Iran was hit during a US-Israeli airstrike, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. The strike reportedly took place in the city of Minab during a wider wave of attacks carried out by the United States and Israel on Saturday.

The incident marked the first confirmed deaths inside Iran since the military operation began. Iranian media said the school was struck during the bombardment, leading to the deaths of the students.

The joint strikes by the US and Israel targeted several locations across Iran. Some early attacks were reported near offices linked to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while smoke was seen rising from parts of the capital, Tehran, as explosions were reported in different areas of the country.

US President Donald Trump announced that “major combat operations" were underway and urged the Iranian public to challenge the country’s Islamic leadership, which has governed Iran since the 1979 revolution.

“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations," Trump said in a video message. “For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also echoed similar sentiments. “Our joint operation will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands," he said.

The strikes mark a significant escalation in the conflict and represent the second time within eight months that the Trump administration has used military force against Iran. The attacks followed weeks of rising tensions, including the deployment of US warships to the region and pressure on Tehran over its nuclear programme.

Iran responded quickly to the offensive. The country launched missiles and drones targeting Israel and also struck US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. In Abu Dhabi, falling debris from an Iranian missile attack killed one person, according to state media.

Following the escalation, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq temporarily closed their airspace as the conflict spread across the region.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a strong statement after the strikes, saying the country would not hold back in responding to the attacks.

“The time has come to defend the homeland and confront the enemy’s military assault," the ministry said in a message posted on X.

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