U.S. Investigation Points to Likely American Responsibility in Deadly Strike on Iranian Girls’ School

U.S. military investigators have reached a preliminary assessment that American forces were likely responsible for a devastating strike on an Iranian girls’ school on February 28, 2026. While the formal investigation remains ongoing, the incident in the southern city of Minab has emerged as one of the most severe cases of potential civilian harm in the opening week of Operation Epic Fury.

The Strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh School

The Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school was leveled during the first wave of coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes.

• The Casualty Toll: While the death toll has not been independently verified, Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Ali Bahreini, reported 150 students killed. Other local sources and humanitarian groups suggest the toll could be as high as 168 to 186 lives lost, primarily girls aged 7 to 12.

• Geographic Focus: In the joint operational division, Israel has focused on missile sites in western Iran, while U.S. forces have been responsible for the southern theater, including naval and military targets in the Hormozgan province where Minab is located.

Preliminary Findings: A Tragic Error?

Two U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the current internal assessment that the strike was “likely” a U.S. action.

• Proximity to Targets: Early analysis suggests the school, which was reportedly located near an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval base, may have been hit during a precision strike on the adjacent military complex.

• Investigative Status: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged the ongoing probe, stating, “We, of course, never target civilian targets. But we’re taking a look and investigating that.”

• White House Stance: Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the Department of War is leading the inquiry, while maintaining that the U.S. does not deliberately target children—a sentiment echoed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

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International and Legal Fallout

Images of the girls’ mass funeral on Tuesday, featuring small coffins draped in Iranian flags, have fueled global outrage.

• Potential War Crimes: The UN human rights office has called for an immediate and thorough investigation, noting that any deliberate attack on a school is a war crime under international law.

• The “Zero Rules” Criticism: Critics of the administration have pointed to Secretary Hegseth’s earlier comments regarding “no stupid rules of engagement” as a factor in the rising civilian death toll, which HRANA reports has now exceeded 1,000 across the country.

The Pentagon has referred further inquiries to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which maintains that it would be “inappropriate to comment” until the investigation concludes.