A recent strike on a girls’ school in Minab, Iran, which tragically resulted in the deaths of scores of children, is believed to have been caused by the use of outdated targeting information by US forces. This revelation comes from two individuals familiar with the ongoing investigation, shedding new light on what could become one of the most severe incidents involving civilian casualties in the history of US military operations.
The incident occurred amid a series of coordinated attacks by the United States and Israel targeting Iranian sites. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, the strike claimed the lives of approximately 150 students. The school itself is situated next to a compound controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a powerful military branch reporting directly to Iran’s supreme leader. This proximity has complicated the narrative surrounding the strike and raised questions about the intelligence used to authorize the attack.
Video footage that has circulated online appears to show a US Tomahawk missile hitting the area, supporting suspicions of American involvement. However, the exact sequence of events leading to the tragedy remains unclear, as the Pentagon has refrained from providing detailed comments, emphasizing that the investigation is still in progress. The US Department of Defense has only confirmed that the matter is under review, leaving many unanswered questions about how such a devastating error could have occurred.
One anonymous source involved in the targeting process indicated that the intelligence used to plan the strike was outdated, suggesting that those responsible for compiling targeting packages may have relied on old or inaccurate data. A second source corroborated this claim, reinforcing concerns about potential lapses in the military’s intelligence verification procedures. The New York Times was the first to report on the possibility that obsolete information played a role in the strike, but the reasons behind the use of such data have yet to be fully explained.
As the investigation continues, it remains uncertain when a definitive conclusion will be reached or what additional factors might have contributed to the tragic event. In the aftermath of the report linking the US to the strike, then-President Donald Trump initially accused Iran of responsibility without providing evidence. He later acknowledged that he did not have sufficient information and pledged to accept the findings of the ongoing inquiry. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials have emphasized that the United States does not intentionally target civilian sites, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
International humanitarian law strictly prohibits deliberate attacks on civilian institutions such as schools and hospitals, categorizing such actions as potential war crimes. The images broadcast on Iranian state television of the funeral for the young victims have deeply moved viewers worldwide. Small coffins draped in Iranian flags were carried from trucks through large crowds to their final resting place, highlighting the profound human cost of the strike.
This incident has sparked widespread condemnation and raised urgent questions about the accuracy and reliability of military intelligence in conflict zones. It also underscores the broader risks of collateral damage during military operations, particularly in areas where civilian and military sites are located in close proximity. As the investigation unfolds, the international community awaits clarity on how such a tragic mistake could have taken place and what measures will be implemented to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
