The Bombing of the Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls School in Minab, Iran

[Mendel]

Given that it is a standard trope in wartime propaganda to accuse your adversary of murdering children*, in order to unify your population and demonize the enemy,

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nayirah_testimony

The Nayirah testimony was false testimony given before the United States Congressional Human Rights Caucus on October 10, 1990, by a 15-year-old Kuwaiti girl who was publicly identified only as Nayirah at the time, and presented herself as having been a volunteer nurse at a Kuwaiti hospital at the time of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. In her testimony, which took place two months after the invasion, she claimed to have witnessed Iraqi soldiers taking premature babies out of incubators in a maternity ward before looting the incubators and leaving the babies to die on the floor. Nayirah's statements were widely publicized and cited numerous times in the United States Senate and by American president George H. W. Bush to contribute to the rationale for pursuing military action against Iraq.

 

[NoParty]

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nayirah_testimony

The Nayirah testimony was false testimony given before the United States Congressional Human Rights Caucus on October 10, 1990, by a 15-year-old Kuwaiti girl who was publicly identified only as Nayirah at the time, and presented herself as having been a volunteer nurse at a Kuwaiti hospital at the time of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. In her testimony, which took place two months after the invasion, she claimed to have witnessed Iraqi soldiers taking premature babies out of incubators in a maternity ward before looting the incubators and leaving the babies to die on the floor. Nayirah's statements were widely publicized and cited numerous times in the United States Senate and by American president George H. W. Bush to contribute to the rationale for pursuing military action against Iraq.

You left out the part that I always remember the most:

"In January 1992, it was revealed that Nayirah had never been a nurse and that she was the daughter of Saud Nasser Al-Saud Al-Sabah,
the Kuwaiti ambassador to the United States at the time the testimony was made."

ETA: So, for those of you too young to remember: Kuwait wanted Iraqi thug Saddam Hussein chased out of their country. A reasonable desire.
But the Nayirah performance was a despicable lie designed to inflame people and demand war against Hussein.
The Bush Administration--filled with lots of people who had looked for an excuse for years, to kill Hussein--used the lie to justify military action. (Like Trump, Bush was mostly apolitical: no real deeply held political beliefs, which is why Cheney, the neocon hawk, was there to "help' Bush, similar to how Heritage used Trump [pro choice most of his life] to achieve many of their political goals...)

 

[deirdre]

It's amazing how every single example on Metabunk of America doing something wrong or a media company doing something "bad" is ALWAYS a right leaning example. lol.

if it looks like a propaganda site, and it smells like a propaganda site... it might just BE a propaganda site.

 

[Giddierone]

That three adjacent buildings were hit in their exact centre, as well as the school, seems conclusive that the US is responsible. Get ready to hear more of that "human shields" bullshit.
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/06/...ests-us-responsible-iran-school-strike-digvid

 

[Gary C]

Actually I think one of those Revolutionary Guard Buildings is the medical clinic being complained about in other news coverage.
Too many versions of this story floating around to right now.

 

[NoParty]

That three adjacent buildings were hit in their exact centre, as well as the school, seems conclusive that the US is responsible. Get ready to hear more of that "human shields" bullshit.
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/06/...ests-us-responsible-iran-school-strike-digvid
View attachment 88979

Actually I think one of those Revolutionary Guard Buildings is the medical clinic being complained about in other news coverage.
Too many versions of this story floating around to right now.

Yeah, I think the coming days will bring more clarity about the individual buildings.

But the precision + Israel saying they know nothing + Hegseth, Rubio, Leavitt etc., saying exactly what you would say,
if you knew your side did it, but you wanted to sow confusion, choosing words very carefully, to make it seem like you
were denying it, but that you could later claim was kind of technically not a straight-on lie... = We did it.

Okay, Ima try to stay just on the school bombing...

 

[Mendel]

The Bush Administration--filled with lots of people who had looked for an excuse for years, to kill Hussein--used the lie to justify military action.

I'd say they used it to sway popular opinion.

Justification was Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The way I heard it, Saddam Hussein had used diplomatic channels to gauge the US response beforehand, but what happened afterwards was not what had been indicated.

There's a long list of civilians targetted by the USA. There is no "clean" war.
https://theintercept.com/2015/10/07/a-short-history-of-u-s-bombing-of-civilian-facilities/

What's unusual about the Kunduz hospital bombing is not that it happened but that it happened to a prominent European organization. In recent times, the U.S. military has bombed a number of civilian facilities.

 

[enilc]

They had targeting packages so accurate that the leader of Iran (Ali Kahmeni) was assassinated in the first wave of bombings. They knew where he'd be and when he'd be there.

Those same targeting packages identified a girl's school (which had been such for at least 2 years) as a legitimate target?

It's "Heck yeah! Technology FTW" on the first count and "oops" on the second count?

Willfully negligent homicide is the starting point for charges.

 

[NoParty]

Another really bullshit technique of this deceitful administration, which still--unbelievably--claims to be ultra-transparent,
is this well-worn trick of (when they do not want to admit what's going on) telling the press that another government
entity is better suited to answer the question. But, of course, the second entity also has no intention of answering.
Faux transparency. Heres an example, from today, re. Shajareh Tayyebeh:

"When Futurism reached out to the Pentagon regarding the use of AI in recent military operations — specifically the targeting of the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' school — we were referred to US CENTCOM, one of eleven unified commands under the Pentagon's umbrella. CENTCOM didn't provide any further information."

https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/pentagon-ai-claude-bombing-elementary-school

 

[John J.]

The Bush Administration--filled with lots of people who had looked for an excuse for years, to kill Hussein--used the lie to justify military action.

(Admittedly off topic, but) Nayriha's account was well-publicized and was no doubt influential in shaping some perceptions, but the main justification for military action against Iraq at that time was its invasion of Kuwait. Hussein didn't do himself any favours by taking hundreds of Westerners (and other non-Iraqi residents of Kuwait) hostage in the process.
After approximately four days of concerted ground combat, Kuwait was liberated, coalition (mainly US) forces were very much in the ascendency, with far fewer casualties than some had anticipated- and George Bush declared a de facto ceasefire, so killing Saddam Hussein probably wasn't the primary rationale for US involvement.

 

[NoParty]

Middle East Eye, (a source I had not heard of before, but rated "MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY"
says that evidence indicates this was a "double tap" incident, wherein a target is initially bombed, and then shortly
thereafter, once first responders, family, etc., arrive to address the carnage & help the wounded,
a second bomb arrives, designed to kill them. (Same technique that got people angry with Hegseth after the Venezuela boat bombings)

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/exclusive-iranian-girls-killed-double-tap-strikes-minab-school
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/middle-east-eye/
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/16/hegseth-wont-release-boat-strike-video-00693041

 

[Ann K]

It's the job of government in a democracy to be transparent about its actions.
If they cannot confirm the report hours after it broke ("we did accidentally bomb that school, we're very sorry") and explain why it happened a day later, they're either too incompetent to be allowed to wage war, or undemocratic.

Explain to whom? Congress? In a democracy, at least in OUR democracy, our government would not have gone to war without a vote of Congress. Unfortunately we seem to be in our post-democracy phase right now, and have carelessly left the keys to the car in the possession of an eight year old with anger issues.

 

[NoParty]

(Admittedly off topic, but) Nayriha's account was well-publicized and was no doubt influential in shaping some perceptions, but the main justification for military action against Iraq at that time was its invasion of Kuwait. Hussein didn't do himself any favours by taking hundreds of Westerners (and other non-Iraqi residents of Kuwait) hostage in the process.
After approximately four days of concerted ground combat, Kuwait was liberated, coalition (mainly US) forces were very much in the ascendency, with far fewer casualties than some had anticipated- and George W. Bush declared a de facto ceasefire, so killing Saddam Hussein probably wasn't the primary rationale for US involvement.

Remember how many times we were given stern warnings about the "Elite Republican Guard"...and what nonsense it all turned out to be?
Anyway, I appreciate the note, but I'm gonna try to keep myself on Shajareh Tayyebeh...

 

[NoParty]

Explain to whom? Congress? In a democracy, at least in OUR democracy, our government would not have gone to war without a vote of Congress. Unfortunately we seem to be in our post-democracy phase right now, and have carelessly left the keys to the car in the possession of an eight year old with anger issues.

I'd give anything if we could get that dope's intelligence, psychology & maturity up to the level of the average eight year-old.

 

[deirdre]

Middle East Eye,

i was wondering how long it would take you to find that article. Thank you for providing links but you also have to provide quotes (and quoting one word doesnt cut it)

In a democracy, at least in OUR democracy, our government would not have gone to war without a vote of Congress.

Article:

The War Powers Resolution requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days, with a further 30-day withdrawal period, without congressional authorization for use of military force (AUMF) or a declaration of war by the United States. The resolution was passed by two-thirds each of the House and Senate, overriding the veto of President Richard Nixon.

It has been alleged that the War Powers Resolution has been violated in the past. However, Congress has disapproved all such incidents, and no allegations have resulted in successful legal actions taken against a president.[2]

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Powers_Resolution

 

[Gary C]

Middle East Eye, (a source I had not heard of before, but rated "MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY"
says that evidence indicates this was a "double tap" incident, wherein a target is initially bombed, and then shortly
thereafter, once first responders, family, etc., arrive to address the carnage & help the wounded,
a second bomb arrives, designed to kill them. (Same technique that got people angry with Hegseth after the Venezuela boat bombings)

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/exclusive-iranian-girls-killed-double-tap-strikes-minab-school
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/middle-east-eye/
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/16/hegseth-wont-release-boat-strike-video-00693041

More likely this was a secondary target. Aircraft not able to strike their primary targets due to visibility or operational constraints would have this IRGC compound programed into their nav systems to hit if the pilots still had adequate fuel and unexpended ordinance.

 

[NoParty]

More likely this was a secondary target. Aircraft not able to strike their primary targets due to visibility or operational constraints would have this IRGC compound programed into their nav systems to hit if the pilots still had adequate fuel and unexpended ordinance.

You might be right. I'm fine with saying I don't know.
But that assessment seems incongruent (to my inexpert eye) with the expert opinions we've read from the PBS, CBS,
New York Times, and Middle East Eye investigations. Just now, add CNN to the list:
Analysis suggests US was responsible for deadly strike on Iranian elementary school
https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/06/middleeast/iran-minab-elementary-school-investigation-us-strike-intl

 

[Gary C]

Someone did not do their homework: Joint Publication 3-60, Joint Targeting, pg III-1

c. Collateral Damage Prevention. The United States of America places a high value on preserving civilian and noncombatant lives and property and seeks to accomplish its mission through the appropriate application of force with minimal collateral damage. Joint standards and methods for CDE provide mitigation techniques and assist commanders with weighing collateral risk against military necessity and assessing proportionality within the framework of the military decision-making process. Joint standards and methods for conducting CDE are stipulated in CJCSI 3160.01, No-Strike and the Collateral Damage Estimation Methodology.

Warning; May cause drowsiness - https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/FOID/Reading Room/Joint_Staff/21-F-0520_JP_3-60_9-28-2018.pdf

 

[NoParty]

Someone did not do their homework: Joint Publication 3-60, Joint Targeting, pg III-1

c. Collateral Damage Prevention. The United States of America places a high value on preserving civilian and noncombatant lives and property and seeks to accomplish its mission through the appropriate application of force with minimal collateral damage. Joint standards and methods for CDE provide mitigation techniques and assist commanders with weighing collateral risk against military necessity and assessing proportionality within the framework of the military decision-making process. Joint standards and methods for conducting CDE are stipulated in CJCSI 3160.01, No-Strike and the Collateral Damage Estimation Methodology.

Warning; May cause drowsiness - https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/FOID/Reading Room/Joint_Staff/21-F-0520_JP_3-60_9-28-2018.pdf

Well, yes. If it's true, that the bomb site has been used as a civilian school for at least a decade,
it seems inexcusable to try to claim you couldn't have known.

"The findings reveal that the school had been clearly separate from an adjacent military site for at least 10 years."

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/3/questions-over-minab-girls-school-strike-as-israel-us-deny-involvement#:~:text=Some websites and social media,for at least 10 years.

 

[John J.]

Middle East Eye, (a source I had not heard of before, but rated "MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY"
says that evidence indicates this was a "double tap" incident, wherein a target is initially bombed, and then shortly
thereafter, once first responders, family, etc., arrive to address the carnage & help the wounded,
a second bomb arrives, designed to kill them.

If the school was believed to be a military target, an attacker might well have used more than one munition.
Unpalatable though it may seem, striking a target again is not a forbidden tactic: Some locations might have bunkers underneath; military airfield repair crews are combatants and an enemy would want to disrupt repairs (obviously not relevant to the school). An attacker might simply want to maximise damage to reduce the amount of materiel that can be retrieved or to maximise military casualties.

The scenario apparently described by Middle Eastern Eye-

...wherein a target is initially bombed, and then shortly thereafter, once first responders, family, etc., arrive to address the carnage & help the wounded, a second bomb arrives, designed to kill them.

- is dependent on the assumption that a civilian location was intentionally hit (in the knowledge that it was a civilian location), and then a second munition was used with the deliberate intention of killing more civilians ("family").

I think this is profoundly unlikely, although it might be believed by some with strongly anti-US or anti-Israeli sentiments.
Unless there is reliable evidence for a deliberate plan to murder schoolgirls and their would-be rescuers, I think a more likely default theory would be that the Shajareh-Tayyebeh school was targeted, and struck, in the belief that it was a military target.

Again; the distinction will be of little comfort to bereaved parents and those injured. The attack was horrific and wholly unjustifiable.