1 hour ago
Last Updated:March 12, 2026, 10:21 IST
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said strike at Minab school would be “thoroughly” investigated and said the US had attempted in every way possible to avoid civilian casualties.
On February 28, a strike hit the Shajareh Tayyiba school in Minab during US attacks on a nearby IRGC facility, killing 168 children and 14 teachers, Iranian state media reported.
A US military strike likely hit an elementary school in Iran due to outdated intelligence, according to sources briefed on the preliminary findings of an ongoing investigation, CNN reported.
The February 28 strike hit the Shajareh Tayyiba school in Minab while the US military was conducting strikes on a nearby Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facility. Iranian state media said the attack killed at least 168 children and 14 teachers.
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Two sources said the strike likely occurred because US Central Command created target coordinates using outdated information provided by the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Outdated intel data behind targeting error?
Satellite imagery from 2013 showed that the school and the IRGC base were once part of the same compound. Images from 2016 later revealed a fence separating the school from the base, along with a separate entrance to the school.
Imagery from December 2025 showed dozens of people in the school courtyard appearing to play.
What US officials said?
A spokesperson for the Defense Intelligence Agency said the incident is under investigation and referred further comment to the Pentagon. A spokesperson for US Central Command also declined to comment on the preliminary findings, citing the ongoing investigation.
Reuters earlier reported that military investigators believed the United States was likely behind the strike. The New York Times later reported that outdated data may have led to the incident. The investigation remains ongoing.
What Trump said?
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he was unaware of reports suggesting the United States was responsible for the deadly strike.
“I don’t know about that," Trump said when asked by CNN whether he accepted responsibility.
Trump had earlier suggested Iran might be to blame for the strike. When asked why no one in his administration supported that claim publicly, he said, “Because I just don’t know enough about it."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the investigation is still ongoing.
Evidence points to US Tomahawk missile
Video geolocated by CNN and released by Iran’s semi-official Mehr News agency showed a munition consistent with an American BGM or UGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missile striking a location inside the IRGC base on February 28. As the camera moved, a large plume of smoke was seen rising from the direction of the Shajareh Tayyiba school.
Missile fragments shared by Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB on Telegram appeared consistent with debris from a US-made Tomahawk cruise missile, according to CNN analysis and expert review.
The fragments were shown on a table in front of the damaged school building. However, it was not possible to confirm whether they came from the school strike, the nearby IRGC naval base strike, or another location.
Pentagon promises investigation
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strike would be “thoroughly" investigated and said the US had attempted in every way possible to avoid civilian casualties. He also accused Iran of targeting civilians indiscriminately.
Tomahawk cruise missiles, produced by US defence contractor Raytheon, are precision-guided weapons used by the US military. They are possessed only by a small number of US allies authorised to purchase them. Even Israel does not have them, and munitions experts told CNN that Iran does not possess such missiles either.
Location :
United States of America (USA)
First Published:
March 12, 2026, 10:21 IST
News world Intelligence Failure? Report Says Outdated Defence Info Likely Behind US Strike On Iran School
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