Iran12 March, 20262 min read
US Strikes Iranian Elementary School, Likely Due to Outdated Intelligence, Killing Dozens
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U.S. missile strike hit an Iranian elementary school, causing civilian casualties. Preliminary investigations attribute the attack to outdated intelligence.
Deadly School Strike
The United States military accidentally struck an Iranian elementary school in a deadly attack. The attack killed at least 168 children and 14 teachers according to preliminary findings. The strike occurred on February 28 at the Shajareh Tayyiba school in Minab, Iran.
“The US military accidentally struck an Iranian elementary school, in an attack that state media said killed at least 168 children and 14 teachers, likely due to outdated information about a nearby naval base, according to two sources briefed on the preliminary findings of an ongoing military investigation.”
It happened during the opening hours of a conflict when U.S. forces were striking nearby IRGC facilities. The incident has become a focal point of the ongoing conflict. It stands among the highest civilian casualty events by American military operations in two decades.
Intelligence Failure
The deadly strike resulted from a significant intelligence failure.
U.S. Central Command officers created target coordinates using outdated information from the Defense Intelligence Agency.
The school and IRGC base were once part of the same compound.
Satellite imagery from 2016 showed a fence was erected to separate them.
A separate entrance to the school had been built by 2016.
By December 2025, imagery showed people playing in the school courtyard.
The outdated intelligence data was used to plan the strike despite these developments.
Trump's Response
President Trump's response to the incident has been inconsistent and evolving. He initially blamed Iran for the attack. Later he said he wasn't certain who was to blame and would accept the Pentagon's findings.
“President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he was unaware of the reports that an ongoing military investigation had found, at least preliminarily, that the United States was responsible for a deadly strike on a school in southern Iran. 'I don't know about that,' Trump said when asked by CNN's Kristen Holmes about the reports and whether he accepted responsibility.”
When asked by CNN about accepting responsibility, Trump said 'I don't know about that.' The president had doubled down on Monday suggesting Iran possessed Tomahawk missiles. The U.S. military is the only known force using that munition in the current conflict.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump's statements. She claimed he was making statements 'as a feeling based on fact.'
Political Fallout
The potential U.S. responsibility has sparked significant political fallout. Democratic lawmakers are calling for answers from the Trump administration. The strike would stand as one of the largest single mistakes by the U.S. military in decades if confirmed.
A group of 46 mostly Democratic senators sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. They demanded 'a swift investigation' into civilian harm from U.S. military actions.
The lawmakers demanded findings and accountability measures be released to the public. The incident has caused widespread outrage and become a major political issue.
Ongoing Investigation
The investigation into the deadly school strike remains ongoing. Both the Pentagon and Defense Intelligence Agency declined to comment on preliminary findings. US Central Command and DIA spokespersons deferred comment to the Pentagon.
“In response to a request for comment, a Defense Intelligence Agency spokesperson said, 'The incident is under investigation; we defer to the Pentagon for further comment.' A spokesperson for US Central Command also declined to comment on the preliminary findings, citing the ongoing investigation.”
Reuters first reported investigators believed the US was behind the strike. The New York Times first reported the reason was outdated data.
The full investigation continues to determine what led to the strike. The incident raises serious questions about U.S. military targeting procedures.