Trending Now - US Airstrike Suspected in Deadly Blast at Iranian School
WHO:
President Trump (U.S. President)
Pete Hegseth (U.S. Defense Secretary)
Gen. Dan Caine (Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff)
N.R. Jenzen-Jones (Director of Armament Research Services)
Ali Bahreini (Iran's ambassador to the UN in Geneva)
Ravina Shamdasani (UN spokeswoman)
Volker Türk (UN human rights chief)
Iranian state media
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
Various victims named in Iranian state media
WHAT:
A U.S. airstrike is suspected to have struck the Shajare Tayyiba elementary school in Minab, Iran, on February 28, 2026.
The strike reportedly killed at least 168 children and 14 teachers, with some reports indicating up to 175 fatalities.
The incident is described as the deadliest civilian casualty event in the ongoing U.S. and Israeli war with Iran.
U.S. military investigators believe it is likely that U.S. forces were responsible for the strike.
The Pentagon is conducting an investigation into the incident.
The UN has called for accountability regarding the strike.
WHERE:
Shajare Tayyiba elementary school, Minab, Hormozgan Province, Iran.
The school is approximately 1,100 kilometers (680 miles) southeast of Tehran.
The strike occurred near an IRGC naval base.
WHEN:
The strike occurred on February 28, 2026.
A mass funeral for the victims was held on March 3, 2026.
The U.S. military's assessment of the incident was initiated shortly after the strike.
WHY:
The U.S. military was reportedly targeting an area associated with the IRGC naval base when the school was struck.
The strike may have resulted from a targeting failure or intelligence oversight regarding the school's status.
HOW:
Evidence includes satellite imagery, geolocated videos, and expert analysis suggesting multiple simultaneous strikes.
The U.S. military has acknowledged conducting strikes in southern Iran, including the vicinity of the school.
The damage pattern observed in satellite images indicates a targeted airstrike rather than a malfunctioning missile.
QUOTES:
Pete Hegseth stated, “We, of course, never target civilian targets. But we’re taking a look and investigating that.”
N.R. Jenzen-Jones commented on the strikes, saying, “We might be seeing an intelligence failure, likely rather early in the process, which misidentified the target or failed to update a targeting list following the building’s change in use.”
Ravina Shamdasani emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “The families of the little girls who were killed are entitled to the truth of how this happened.”
A U.S. airstrike on February 28, 2026, is suspected to have struck the Shajare Tayyiba elementary school in Minab, Iran, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 168 children and 14 teachers, making it the deadliest civilian casualty event in the ongoing conflict with Iran. The Pentagon is currently investigating the incident, as military assessments suggest that U.S. forces may have been responsible, with evidence indicating a targeting failure or intelligence oversight regarding the school's status. UN officials have called for accountability, emphasizing that the families of the victims deserve to know the truth about this devastating event.