A precision airstrike that struck the Shajarah Tayyebeh Elementary School in southern Iran on February 28 is increasingly believed to have been carried out by the United States military, according to a joint investigation by The New York Times and Reuters.
The strike, which occurred in the coastal city of Minab, has become the deadliest known civilian casualty incident since the United States and Israel launched their joint military campaign against Iran.
Although no party has formally claimed responsibility for the attack, a growing body of evidence—including satellite imagery, verified video footage, and expert analysis—points toward US involvement.
Satellite images analyzed by investigators, including new data from Planet Labs, show that the school building suffered severe damage consistent with a precision-guided strike. The attack occurred simultaneously with multiple strikes on a nearby naval facility operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Imagery indicates that at least six buildings inside the IRGC compound were hit during the operation. Four of the structures were completely levelled, while two others showed precise impact points at the center of their roofs—a pattern commonly associated with precision-guided munitions.
Wes J. Bryant, who reviewed the imagery in an interview with The New York Times, described the strikes as “picture-perfect” target hits.
According to Bryant, the most likely explanation for the tragedy is target misidentification, suggesting that the attacking forces may have believed the building was still part of the military compound.
Historical satellite imagery reviewed during the investigation indicates that the building was indeed part of the IRGC base as far back as 2013. However, by September 2016, it had been partitioned and repurposed as a civilian school.
Iranian health officials and state media report that at least 175 people were killed, many of them schoolchildren. Most of the victims were girls aged between seven and twelve who were attending classes during the morning school session when the strike occurred.
Questions Mount Over Alleged Death of 150 Students in Reported U.S.–Israel Strike in Southern Iran
Images aired on Iranian state television showed mass funeral processions, with rows of small coffins carried through crowds of grieving families and mourners.
Senior officials in United States have acknowledged that the incident is under investigation.
Pete Hegseth stated during a news briefing that the Pentagon is examining the circumstances surrounding the strike.
“We, of course, never target civilian targets. But we’re taking a look and investigating that,” Hegseth said.
Similarly, Marco Rubio said the United States would not deliberately target a school, referring further inquiries to the Department of Defense.
The United Nations Human Rights Office has called for a transparent and independent investigation, emphasizing that the burden of accountability lies with the forces responsible for the attack.
Experts say the incident could raise serious questions under international humanitarian law.
Janina Dill noted that attacking forces are legally obligated to verify that a target is a legitimate military objective before launching a strike.
Under the laws of armed conflict, intentionally targeting a school or other civilian structure constitutes a war crime unless it is being used for military purposes.
While current evidence—including flight path analysis and the pattern of precision-guided impacts—strongly suggests the munition originated from US forces operating in the southern theatre, American officials have not ruled out the possibility that new information could emerge.
For now, the tragedy in Minab stands as one of the most devastating civilian incidents of the conflict, intensifying international scrutiny over the conduct of military operations in the region.
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