A comprehensive United States military investigation has concluded that an American Tomahawk missile mistakenly struck an elementary school in southern Iran, according to revelations by The New York Times. The February 28th incident, which resulted in significant casualties, occurred due to targeting coordinates established using obsolete intelligence information.
Multiple US officials familiar with the ongoing probe indicate preliminary findings confirm American responsibility for the tragic incident in Minab. The military had intended to strike an adjacent Iranian Revolutionary Guard naval base, but target designation relied on outdated Defense Intelligence Agency data that failed to reflect the school’s separation from the military compound.
President Donald Trump initially speculated that Iran might have been responsible for the strike—despite Iran not possessing Tomahawk missile capability. When questioned about the investigation’s findings, the president responded, “I don’t know about it,” despite previously stating he could “live with” whatever conclusions emerged.
Iranian media reports indicate funeral services were held for at least 165 victims, including numerous children, though these figures remain unverified independently. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has publicly blamed both the United States and Israel for the attack, while Israeli officials consistently deny any involvement or knowledge of the operation.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously asserted that the United States would never intentionally target an educational facility. Military investigators are now examining the procedural breakdowns that allowed outdated information to be utilized in strike planning and why proper verification protocols were not followed.
The targeted school building had been physically separated from the military base between 2013 and 2016, but intelligence databases failed to reflect this significant structural change. The incident highlights critical challenges in modern warfare targeting procedures and the catastrophic consequences of intelligence failures.
