A recent investigation suggests that the United States is most likely responsible for a strike that reportedly killed scores of people at an elementary school in southern Iran. The February 28 strike hit an elementary school in the Iranian town of Minab and killed at least 150 people, according to Iranian officials. Neither Israel nor the United States has claimed responsibility for the attack, which was in close proximity to sites controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
The US Department of Defense has said it is investigating the incident. An analysis of social media posts from the time of the attack, as well as photos and videos from witnesses, indicated that the Shajare Tayyebeh elementary school was struck at the same time as a Revolutionary Guards’ naval base site. Two unidentified US officials told Reuters that military investigators believe it is likely that US forces were responsible for the strike.
Investigation and Aftermath
General Dan Caine, the top US military officer, said on Wednesday that the United States was carrying out strikes along southern Iran at the time. A map he presented indicated an area including Minab had been targeted by strikes in the first 100 hours of the operation. The school was at one point part of the IRGC’s naval base, according to satellite images from 2013 reviewed by the Times. However, the paper said publicly available historical satellite imagery shows the structure bears the hallmarks of a school, including a sports field and other recreational areas that were added over time.
International Reaction
According to the US Department of State, the United States has not commented on the specifics of the strike. The Norway-based rights group Hengaw said the school was holding its morning session at the time of the attack and reportedly had about 170 students present. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with many calling for an independent investigation into the attack.
Here are some key points about the incident:
- The strike occurred on February 28 and killed at least 150 people
- The US Department of Defense is investigating the incident
- Two unidentified US officials believe it is likely that US forces were responsible for the strike
- The school was located near a Revolutionary Guards’ naval base site
The incident highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in military operations, particularly when civilian lives are at risk. As international humanitarian law dictates, parties to a conflict must take all feasible precautions to avoid or minimize harm to civilians and civilian objects.
