Congress To Be Briefed As Probe Examines Iran School Strike, Sources Tell RFE/RL

"Evidence is building that the strike may be the result of US forces relying on outdated intelligence, according to two US officials familiar with the matter, though they cautioned that the assessment remains preliminary. The officials, who spoke to RFE/RL on March 11 on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, said they could not confirm or deny reports -- which have appeared in The New York Times and Reuters, among other media outlets -- on the faulty intelligence, but they added that early findings point in a similar direction."

"Two sources briefed on the preliminary findings told Reuters that the targeting data used by officers at US Central Command appeared to rely on outdated intelligence. It remains unclear as to how the obsolete information was incorporated into the targeting process or why it was not verified before the strike."

"The February 28 missile attack hit the Shajarah Tayyebeh girls' elementary school in the southern Iranian city of Minab, in the Hormozgan province, killing at least 175 people, including 168 children, according to local officials. If confirmed as a US mistake, it would rank among the deadliest incidents of civilian casualties involving American forces in decades."

US military officials are preparing a final assessment of a February 28 missile strike on the Shajarah Tayyebeh girls' elementary school in Minab, Iran, which killed at least 175 people, including 168 children. Preliminary findings suggest the attack was likely launched by US forces relying on outdated intelligence. Two US officials familiar with the investigation indicated that targeting data used by US Central Command officers appeared to depend on obsolete information, though they could not confirm details. The assessment will be shared with Congress soon. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials have stated the United States would not deliberately target civilians. If confirmed as a US error, this would rank among the deadliest civilian casualty incidents involving American forces in recent decades.

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