U.S. officials are investigating whether an American military strike may have mistakenly bombed a girls’ school in southern Iran, killing at least 168 people, many of them children, during the opening days of the ongoing conflict, according to sources familiar with the preliminary intelligence.
The strike occurred Feb. 28 in Minab, located in Iran’s Hormozgan Province, where Iranian authorities say the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School was hit.
A preliminary U.S. assessment suggests the United States military is “likely” responsible for the bombing but may have targeted the area based on outdated intelligence that incorrectly identified the site as part of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps installation, according to a person briefed on the investigation.
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Officials cautioned that the inquiry remains ongoing and no final conclusions have been reached.
Children among the victims
Iranian state media reported that 168 people were killed in the strike, including schoolgirls between the ages of 7 and 12.
Authorities in Minab published a list of victims showing the names of 57 individuals, according to reports cited by Human Rights Watch, which said at least 48 of the names appeared to belong to children based on the listed birthdates.
The victims also included the school’s principal and several teachers.
Video verified by journalists showed black smoke rising from a damaged building decorated with murals featuring children’s drawings and crayons. Analysts geolocated the footage to the school building in Minab.
Military activity in the area
Sources told reporters that investigators believe the U.S. military may have been responsible because American forces were operating nearby when the strike occurred.
Two sources said Israel Defense Forces were not conducting operations in the area, and an Israeli government official confirmed Israel was not involved.
The school was located close to two facilities believed to be controlled by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
White House says investigation ongoing
A White House spokesperson, Anna Kelly, said the investigation remains active and cautioned against drawing conclusions.
“The investigation is ongoing,” Kelly said in a statement. “There are no conclusions at this time, and it is both irresponsible and false for anyone to claim otherwise.”
Trump suggests Iran responsible
Despite the ongoing investigation, Donald Trump said Saturday that he believed Iran was behind the strike.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said the bombing appeared to be the result of inaccurate Iranian munitions.
“We think it was done by Iran, because they’re very inaccurate with their munitions,” Trump said.
Trump made the remarks after attending a dignified transfer ceremony for six U.S. service members killed in a separate Iranian strike in Kuwait on March 1.
Pentagon response
Pete Hegseth, the U.S. defense secretary, declined to speculate on responsibility when asked about the incident during an interview with 60 Minutes.
“Unlike our adversaries, the Iranians, we never target civilians,” Hegseth said. “It’s being investigated, which is the only answer I’m prepared to give.”
Officials from United States Central Command have also confirmed that a review is underway.
The strike has drawn international attention as the conflict escalates and raises questions about the use of intelligence and targeting procedures in densely populated areas.
