Iranian schools, hospital and landmarks among civilian sites hit during US-Israeli strikes
Iranian Schools, Hospital and Landmarks Among Civilian Sites Hit During US-Israeli Strikes
Satellite images and confirmed video footage highlight significant destruction of schools, a hospital, and historical sites since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on Saturday. The number of reported civilian casualties has risen sharply, with Iranian officials stating that 168 individuals were killed at a school in Minab on Saturday morning. Additionally, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported 1,168 civilian deaths, including 194 children, as the conflict intensifies.
An internet blackout, enforced by Iranian authorities, has hindered communication with people inside the country and limited access to video evidence. However, some Tehran residents who managed to connect to the internet described Thursday night as the most intense bombing period in the capital. The relentless strikes left many awake all night, with one resident calling the chaos “hell on earth” and another likening it to “a scene from a dystopian film.”
Damage to Hospitals and Cultural Sites
Verified images reveal the Gandhi Hospital in Tehran suffered severe damage on Sunday. Debris and shattered glass were visible as civilians watched the aftermath. The hospital’s in-vitro fertilisation department was reportedly destroyed, according to Mohammad Raeiszadeh, head of Iran’s Medical Council. A spokesperson for the foreign ministry condemned the attacks as a “blatant war crime,” while Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the World Health Organisation called the incident “extremely worrying,” noting that health facilities are safeguarded under international law.
Footage from the attack shows patients, including a baby in an incubator, being evacuated. A fire was observed in a stairwell, with thick smoke rising from upper floors. While the front of the hospital is not clearly visible in satellite imagery, the IRIB studios nearby appear to have been the intended target, as a collapsed transmission tower and impact marks are evident from March 3 images.
Impact on Civilian Life
Residents in Tehran expressed fear and exhaustion, with one describing the constant “sound of ongoing blasts” as fatiguing and energy draining. Another highlighted the psychological toll, stating that “my uncle has a mental illness. The poor man had convinced himself he was dead.” The bombardment has destabilised vulnerable communities, according to eyewitness accounts.
Further damage was observed in Lamerd, where a sports hall in the southern coastal city saw 20 casualties after a blast on Saturday. The building showed heavy scorch marks and smoke, with images indicating multiple strikes in the vicinity. An Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) base is located just north of the site, but no visible damage has been reported in low-resolution satellite images.
Uncertain Targets and Responses
The IDF admitted “minor damage” to the Gandhi Hospital, attributing it to a strike on a nearby military facility. However, the hospital’s proximity to IRIB studios raises questions about its status as a legitimate target. Janina Dill, an international law expert at Oxford University, noted that media outlets can be considered military targets depending on their role in conflict strategies.
A mass funeral procession in the city centre on 2 March was captured by Tasnim news agency, with hundreds holding photos of victims and mourning the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei. The US military and IDF have yet to respond to inquiries about these incidents.