Iranian schools, hospital and landmarks among civilian sites hit during US-Israeli strikes
Iranian Schools, Hospitals, and Landmarks Targeted in US-Israeli Strikes
Satellite imagery and verified videos reveal significant destruction to civilian sites in Iran since the US and Israeli strikes commenced on Saturday. Schools, a hospital, and historical landmarks have suffered severe damage, with reports of rising civilian casualties. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) confirmed 1,168 civilians killed, including 194 children.
Internet Blackout Hinders Communication
Iran’s authorities have imposed an almost complete internet blackout, complicating efforts to reach residents or access video evidence. Despite this, some Tehran citizens who managed internet connectivity described Thursday night as the most intense bombing phase in the capital. The relentless strikes left many awake, with one resident likening the chaos to “hell on earth” and another to “a scene from a dystopian film.”
“The constant sound of ongoing blasts is fatiguing and energy sapping.”
“My uncle has a mental illness. The poor man had convinced himself he was dead.”
Damage to Key Facilities Documented
According to BBC Verify, a hospital, sports centers, a UNESCO world heritage site, and two schools were hit. Iranian officials reported 168 deaths at a school in Minab, southern Iran, while another school in Urmia, northwestern Iran, also sustained damage. The Gandhi Hospital in Tehran, for instance, showed extensive destruction, with debris and glass scattered after the attack. A baby in an incubator was seen being evacuated, according to post-strike footage.
Iran’s Medical Council head stated the IVF department of the hospital was destroyed. Satellite images captured on 3 March revealed a collapsed transmission tower on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) site, alongside impact marks near the hospital. The hospital’s front, which appears damaged in videos, is not visible from the satellite angle.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the Minab school blast was under investigation, asserting that US forces “never target civilian targets.” The IDF noted “minor damage” to the hospital, citing a strike on a nearby military facility. The IRIB site, located opposite the hospital, may have been the intended target.
Other Attacks and Casualties
Further strikes in the southern city of Lamerd resulted in 20 deaths at a sports hall, with heavy damage observed. Scorch marks and smoke from the exterior indicated the blast’s force. While the nearby Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) base showed no visible damage in low-resolution imagery, the attack’s location suggests multiple strikes in the area.
Footage from 2 March displayed a funeral procession in the city center, with hundreds gathering to honor the victims and the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei. International law expert Janina Dill at Oxford University noted that media outlets can be classified as military targets during conflicts, depending on their role in propaganda and strategy.
International Reactions
A spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry called the attacks a “blatant war crime,” while WHO chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the incident as “extremely worrying.” He emphasized that health facilities are protected under international humanitarian law, underscoring the gravity of the strikes on medical infrastructure.
