US military investigators believe it is likely that American forces were responsible for a strike on an Iranian girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran, that killed scores of children on Saturday. Satellite images and expert analysis reviewed by The Associated Press suggest the explosion at Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School was caused by US airstrikes targeting an adjacent compound associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
Key Takeaways
US military investigators believe American forces likely struck an Iranian girls’ school, killing scores of children. Satellite images and expert analysis suggest the explosion was caused by US airstrikes targeting a nearby Revolutionary Guard compound. The Pentagon is investigating but has not confirmed responsibility. Iran reports over 165 dead, mostly children, while the US emphasizes it does not target civilians.
The Pentagon confirmed an ongoing investigation but declined further comment until its conclusion. According to anonymous US officials, new evidence could emerge pointing to another responsible party. The type of munition used and the motive behind the strike remain undetermined.
Iranian state media reported that over 165 people, most of them children, were killed in the blast during school hours. Iran’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, claimed 150 students died in the attack on Saturday during joint US and Israeli strikes across Iran. However, Reuters could not independently verify this death toll.
The White House emphasized that the Iranian regime targets civilians and children, not the United States. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged the investigation, asserting that the US does not target civilian sites but is thoroughly examining the incident. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also stated that the US would not deliberately strike a school.
Israeli and US forces have been coordinating their attacks in Iran geographically and by target type. While Israel focused on missile launch sites in western Iran, the US targeted similar sites and naval bases in the south. The UN human rights office called for an investigation into the attack without specifying responsibility but emphasized that the attacking forces must probe the incident.
The strike has raised concerns about potential war crimes under international humanitarian law if a US role is confirmed. Images of the girls’ mass funeral, shown on Iranian state television, depicted small coffins draped with Iranian flags being carried by mourners to a gravesite.
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