US Military Strike Hits Iranian Elementary School, Killing Over 180 People
US Military Strike Hits Iranian Elementary School, Killing Over 180 People The United States military has reportedly accidentally struck an elementary school in southern Iran, killing at least 168 children and 14 teachers, in what investigators say may have been caused by outdated intelligence about a nearby naval base According to preliminary findings from an ongoing U.S. military investigation, the strike targeted coordinates believed to be part of an Iranian military facility but instead hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in the city of Minab, resulting in one of the deadliest civilian incidents of the ongoing conflict with Iran. Sources briefed on the investigation said the strike occurred on February 28, 2026, during a wave of U.S. attacks against facilities linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The school was located close to a military compound that had been the intended target of the operation. Investigators believe that the target coordinates were generated using outdated intelligence information provided by the Defense Intelligence Agency, which incorrectly identified the area as part of the military base. Satellite imagery later showed that although the school had once been part of a larger military compound, it had been separated years earlier and converted into a civilian educational facility with its own entrance and boundary fence.
Iranian state media reported that the missile strike caused the roof of the school building to collapse while students were in class, killing mostly children aged between seven and twelve years old. Around 95 people were also reported injured in the attack. Iranian authorities condemned the attack, describing it as a “war crime” and accusing the United States of deliberately targeting civilians. Thousands of mourners reportedly attended funerals for the victims. U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed the final findings of the investigation but said the incident is being “thoroughly investigated” and stressed that the United States does not intentionally target civilians.
The strike has also drawn international criticism from human rights groups and global organizations, which have called for a transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The incident occurred during the 2026 war involving Iran and a U.S.–Israeli coalition, which has seen numerous airstrikes on military targets across the country. The Minab strike has become the deadliest civilian casualty event of the conflict so far, according to reports. Experts say the tragedy highlights the risks of relying on outdated intelligence during military operations, particularly when civilian infrastructure such as schools is located near military facilities.
