Three months after the deadly bombing of the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab, Iran, heartbreaking scenes of grief continue to emerge from families who lost loved ones in the attack.
One story in particular has touched millions online — the story of the father of Heidar Salehi, one of the children killed during the devastating strike that destroyed the school and claimed the lives of dozens of students and teachers.
According to reports circulating in Iranian and international media, the grieving father still spends his nights sleeping beside the grave of his son, unable to emotionally separate himself from the child he lost in the tragedy.
“I can’t leave his side,” the father reportedly said through tears. “How can I let him stay here all alone? I have nobody else.”
The emotional statement has spread widely across social media platforms, with many users describing it as one of the most painful images to emerge from the conflict.
The Minab school bombing occurred during the early stages of the ongoing war involving Iran, with the Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school becoming the center of international attention after reports revealed that large numbers of children had been killed in the strike. Investigations by several international outlets, including The Guardian and Reuters, documented extensive destruction at the school and confirmed that many of the victims were young students.
The school, located in southern Iran near an IRGC compound, was reportedly struck during school hours, causing sections of the building to collapse on students and teachers inside. Witness videos and satellite imagery reviewed by multiple media organizations showed scenes of devastation, including destroyed classrooms, scattered school bags, collapsed walls, and grieving parents searching through rubble.
Reports on the exact death toll vary, but several investigations estimate that more than 150 civilians may have died in the attack, including a large number of children.
For families like the Salehis, however, statistics mean little compared to the emptiness left behind.
Residents in Minab say the local cemetery has become a permanent gathering place for mourning families who continue to visit the graves of children lost in the bombing. Images from the aftermath reportedly showed rows upon rows of newly dug graves, reflecting the scale of the tragedy.
Human rights organizations and international observers have continued to call for investigations into the bombing, while debates surrounding responsibility for the strike remain politically charged. UNESCO previously described the attack as a “grave violation” of international humanitarian law.
Meanwhile, the grief of survivors and families remains deeply personal and ongoing.
Online reactions to the father’s story have been emotional, with thousands expressing sympathy and heartbreak over the image of a parent unable to leave his child’s resting place.
Many social media users described the father’s words as a painful reminder of the human consequences of war — especially on children and families caught in the middle of geopolitical conflict.
As international attention shifts from one global crisis to another, stories like that of Heidar Salehi and his father continue to highlight the lasting emotional scars left behind long after bombs stop falling.
For one grieving father in Minab, the war may never truly end.
English (US) ·