The Iranian school struck in the war's earliest attacks is now a memorial for children

MINAB, Iran (AP) — This will never be a school again.

Its bright blue gate is still painted with the symbols that once welcomed children: Iran’s map, oversized pencils and portraits of legends in science and literature.

But now, the walkway beyond it guides visitors past rows of photographs. They show children busy living, at birthday parties and more. Then come the same small faces on black banners of mourning.

This is the emerging memorial to the schoolchildren killed in the attack in the earliest moments of the war that the United States and Israel began across Iran on Feb. 28. Strikes hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab.

Iranian officials said more than 100 students were killed. Months later, the Trump administration still has not directly accepted responsibility for the strike or released the Pentagon’s findings, even as an Associated Press investigation found evidence that at least one U.S. missile hit the school.

Attention turned to Minab again in the past week when a new round of U.S. strikes along Iran’s southern coast struck a wedding and other areas, sending some of the injured to a hospital in the community.

The AP visited the badly damaged two-story building whose classrooms remain frozen mid-lesson, with desks half buried and ceilings collapsed.

There have been calls to preserve the ruins as a historical record. Hormozgan Gov. Mohammad Ashouri Taziani has said the building would be turned into a war museum and memorial.

Nearby, a section of Minab’s cemetery has been dedicated to those killed. Families and others move quietly across the grave-marked artificial grass.

Residents said three bodies still have not been found.

Women walk at the graveyard of the school children who were killed after their school was a hit by a strike on Feb. 28, in town of Minab in southern Iran, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A general view of the school that was hit by a strike on Feb. 28, is seen in town of Minab in southern Iran, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A general view of the school that was hit by a strike on Feb. 28, is seen in town of Minab in southern Iran, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A woman walks at the graveyard of the school children who were killed after their school was a hit by a strike on Feb. 28, in town of Minab in southern Iran, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A general view of the school that was hit by a strike on Feb. 28, is seen in town of Minab in southern Iran, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

MONZA, Italy (AP) — George Russell will be looking to make up some ground on Kimi Antonelli in the Formula 1 title race, with his Mercedes teammate starting from the back of the grid at the Italian Grand Prix.

The race had to be temporarily halted after about six minutes when Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc crashed hard into the barriers, bringing out the red flag. It was due to restart at 1539 local time, following a delay of more than 30 minutes.

By then Russell, who started second, was already leading after getting ahead of surprise polesitter Pierre Gasly at the start of the second lap. However, Antonelli had sliced through the field and was already up to 12th.

Moments later disaster struck at Ferrari's home race.

Leclerc lost control coming out of Parabolica at the end of Lap 2 and swerved off into the barriers at high speed. He got out of his car and sat down near the track, looking heartbroken.

The hordes of passionate, red-clad tifosi around the track looked similarly despondent, with many in tears.

The Ferraris had started in the second row but Lewis Hamilton had tumbled down to 10th after coming together with Leclerc at the second turn.

“Charles pushed me off!” Hamilton exclaimed over team radio.

Russell is second in the overall standings, level with Hamilton and 59 points behind Antonelli, who is bidding to become F1’s youngest champion.

The 20-year-old Antonelli has taken on a hefty grid penalty at Monza after Mercedes opted to swap his car’s power unit to head off potential reliability problems in the second half of the season.

Lando Norris is hoping to make it a hat trick of victories to turbocharge his title defense but he starts in eighth. The McLaren driver triumphed in Hungary and the Netherlands to cut the gap to Antonelli to 83 points.

See AP’s full auto racing coverage here

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain smiles in his garage during the third free practice ahead of the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Alpine driver Pierre Gasly of France celebrates with his pole position trophy after the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy walks through the pits after the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain steers his car during the third free practice ahead of the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)