Initial US investigation suggests American forces behind Iran school attack
A preliminary investigation by the United States military suggests that American forces were likely responsible for a strike on a girls’ school in southern Iran, though the inquiry has not yet reached a final conclusion, according to two US officials familiar with the matter.
The officials said investigators currently believe the attack may have been carried out by US forces, but emphasized that the probe is still ongoing and that additional evidence could alter the assessment.
They also noted that new findings might eventually clear the United States of responsibility and identify another party behind the incident.
The strike occurred on Saturday during the opening phase of joint US and Israeli attacks against Iranian targets. The school, located in Minab, was reportedly hit by a missile, causing heavy casualties among students.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, said the attack killed about 150 schoolgirls. However, independent verification of the death toll has not been possible.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed earlier this week that the military was reviewing the circumstances surrounding the strike.
Speaking to reporters, he said the United States does not intentionally target civilian sites but acknowledged that authorities were examining what happened.
The Pentagon directed further questions to the US Central Command. A spokesperson for the command, Captain Timothy Hawkins, declined to comment in detail, stating that it would be inappropriate to discuss the matter while the investigation is underway.
The White House also avoided direct comment on the probe. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the incident was under review, adding that the United States does not target civilians or children.
Similarly, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would never deliberately strike a school, stressing that such actions would contradict US policy.
Sources familiar with the joint military planning said Israeli and American forces have been dividing their operations inside Iran by both geography and type of target.
According to these sources, Israel has mainly focused on missile-launch facilities in western Iran, while US forces have been targeting missile systems and naval assets in the southern part of the country.
The United Nations human rights office has called for a full investigation into the incident. Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said responsibility for investigating the strike lies with the forces that carried it out.
Images broadcast by Iranian state television showed funeral ceremonies held earlier this week for the victims. Small coffins wrapped in Iranian flags were carried through crowds of mourners before being taken for burial.
Under international humanitarian law, deliberately targeting civilian structures such as schools or hospitals could constitute a war crime.
If the investigation ultimately confirms US involvement, the strike could become one of the deadliest incidents involving civilian casualties linked to American military operations in the Middle East in decades.
