Multiple investigations by international media outlets suggest that US forces were likely responsible for a strike on a girls’ school in southern Iran that killed scores of students on the first day of the US–Israeli military campaign against Tehran.

The strike hit the Shajare Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school in Minab on February 28, reportedly killing more than 150 children and teachers while classes were in session, according to Iranian officials. The exact death toll has not been independently verified.

Analysis by CNN found that satellite imagery, geolocated videos and expert assessments point to the school being struck at roughly the same time as a nearby facility belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which was likely targeted by US forces.

Experts reviewing the imagery say the pattern of destruction suggests multiple precision air-delivered munitions hit both the military compound and the nearby school building. According to munitions analyst N.R. Jenzen-Jones, the most likely explanation is that the school was unintentionally struck during an attack on the adjacent naval base.

A Reuters investigation citing two US officials also reported that American military investigators currently believe it is likely that US forces were responsible for the strike, although the probe has not yet reached a final conclusion.

Reporting by The New York Times similarly analysed satellite imagery and verified video footage from the scene, concluding that the school was hit during US strikes on a nearby Iranian naval facility. The newspaper said the building had long functioned as a civilian school despite being located near what had previously been part of a military complex.

Satellite images show that the school and the military compound were once part of the same facility but were separated years ago by fencing and a dedicated entrance for the school. Investigators believe outdated intelligence or a targeting error may have contributed to the strike.

The Pentagon has confirmed that the incident is under investigation. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the military is reviewing the circumstances, stressing that American forces do not deliberately target civilian infrastructure.

The United Nations has called for a full investigation into the strike, warning that attacks on schools and other civilian sites could constitute violations of international humanitarian law.

If confirmed, the attack would be one of the deadliest incidents involving civilian casualties in the current war between the United States, Israel and Iran.

The Western Cape Government has welcomed a High Court interdict aimed at protecting residents and commuters in Atlantis and surrounding communities from transport-related intimidation and illegal taxi operations.

The interdict, granted on Friday, 6 March, applies to several taxi associations and individuals accused of interfering with public and private transport services in areas including Atlantis, Saxonwold and Witsand.

Several taxi operators have been shot and killed in recent weeks, including a 14-year-old girl, who was struck by a stray bullet outside her school in mid-February. Two other learners were also wounded.

Those named in the court order include the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA), the Saxonwold Local Taxi Association, the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (CODETA), the Atlantis Taxi Association and the CODETA Khayelitsha Killarney Local Taxi Association, as well as nine individuals.

The order prohibits the respondents, including their officials, employees and drivers, from assaulting, threatening or intimidating drivers and operators of other taxi associations or transport services. It also bars them from interfering with any form of public or private transport.

Western Cape Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku said the interdict reinforces the rule of law and prioritises the safety of residents who rely on these transport routes daily.

He acknowledged that legal interventions can sometimes create short-term uncertainty for commuters, but said the order sends a clear message that violence and intimidation will not be tolerated.

The court order also requires taxi operators to comply strictly with the conditions of their operating licences and prohibits anyone from running minibus taxi services in, to or from Atlantis without the necessary permits.

Authorities say the order specifically covers areas where interference has been reported, including the Potsdam Public Transport Interchange, the Atlantis CBD taxi rank, Westfleur Circle in Avondale and the Witsand informal taxi rank.

The Western Cape Government says it will continue monitoring the situation alongside law enforcement agencies and may carry out targeted inspections and compliance audits to ensure the interdict is upheld and commuter services remain safe.

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is urging students who have not yet finalised their accommodation to complete the necessary agreements as soon as possible to guarantee a smooth start to the academic year.

According to NSFAS, the scheme has received 224,983 accommodation applications from students nationwide. NSFAS board chairperson Mugwena Maluleke says they remain committed to ensuring that all qualifying students have access to safe and suitable accommodation.

“A significant number of applicants have not yet submitted their signed leases. NSFAS urgently appeals to these students and accommodation providers to complete the process by signing and submitting their leases as soon as possible. Failure to do so may result in delays or complications in the allocation of accommodation and related allowances.”

Meanwhile, acting CEO Waseem Carrim reminded students that the NSFAS registration portal closes at the end of this month.

“I think we have really done a lot to plan better, to communicate better and be more transparent. We released the majority of our funding decisions before the matric results would have been released. That assisted in reducing the pressure and anxiety in the system.”