WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has launched a high-level investigation into a devastating strike on an Iranian elementary school that resulted in the deaths of 168 children. The move comes as the Trump administration faces intensifying international scrutiny regarding the incident.
If the inquiry confirms that American forces were responsible for the attack on the girls’ school in Minab, it would represent one of the deadliest instances of civilian casualties resulting from U.S. military operations in the region in recent history.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth characterized the event as “serious” during a Pentagon press briefing. While he acknowledged the gravity of the situation, Hegseth declined to discuss preliminary findings. “We’re not going to let reporting lead us or force our hand into indicating what happened,” he stated.
Hegseth revealed that the Department of Defense has appointed a U.S. general officer from outside U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) to lead the probe to ensure independent oversight. He noted that the investigation would be exhaustive, stating it “will take as long as necessary to address all the matters surrounding this incident.”
Addressing the tragedy from the White House, President Donald Trump claimed he did not yet have a full understanding of the circumstances surrounding the strike. He also suggested that the attack might have been carried out by a different actor, noting the widespread use of U.S.-made weaponry by other countries.
“It’s something that I was told is under investigation, but Tomahawks are used by others,” the President said. “As you know, numerous other nations have Tomahawks. They buy them from us.”
Despite the administration’s uncertainty, digital evidence has begun to emerge. The investigative group Bellingcat geolocated footage released by the Iranian news agency Mehr, which shows the destruction at the Minab school. Preliminary analysis suggests the facility was hit during a wave of U.S. military strikes aimed at a nearby Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval base.
