US Military Investigation Suggests Strike on Iranian Girls’ School in Minab May Have Been Carried Out by American Forces During Iran War
A preliminary investigation by the United States military has indicated that American forces may have been responsible for a deadly strike on a girls’ school in southern Iran during the early phase of the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The incident, which occurred in the city of Minab, reportedly resulted in the deaths of dozens of students and has drawn international attention and concern.
According to US officials familiar with the investigation, military investigators believe it is likely that the strike was carried out by American forces, although the inquiry has not yet reached a final conclusion. The officials noted that the investigation is still underway and that further evidence could emerge that might alter the current assessment.
The Pentagon has confirmed that a formal investigation is ongoing but has not publicly confirmed which military force carried out the strike. US officials emphasised that American forces do not intentionally target civilian infrastructure such as schools and that the investigation is being conducted to determine exactly what happened.
The incident took place on the first day of coordinated military operations by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets. These operations were aimed at military facilities, missile launch sites and naval assets across different parts of the country.
The girls’ school that was struck was located in the city of Minab in southern Iran. Iranian authorities have claimed that around 150 students were killed in the attack, although independent verification of the exact casualty figure has not yet been confirmed.
The strike has sparked global concern because schools are considered protected civilian infrastructure under international humanitarian law.
Investigation Into the Minab School Strike
US military investigators are currently reviewing operational records, intelligence data and satellite imagery to determine the circumstances surrounding the strike on the school.
Officials involved in the inquiry are attempting to establish what type of weapon was used, what the intended target of the strike was and whether the attack occurred because of incorrect targeting information or misidentification of the location.
Two US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said that early assessments suggest American forces may have been responsible for the strike. However, they also emphasised that investigators have not ruled out other possibilities and that the investigation remains open.
The Pentagon has declined to provide further operational details while the investigation is ongoing.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged the incident during a briefing and confirmed that the military is investigating the strike.
He stated that the United States military does not deliberately target civilian facilities and that authorities are examining the available evidence carefully.
Similarly, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that if the strike were confirmed to have been carried out by American forces, the Department of Defense would conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
Both officials emphasised that US military operations follow strict rules designed to minimise civilian casualties during armed conflicts.
International Reaction and Calls for Investigation
The reported strike on the girls’ school has prompted international concern and calls for accountability.
The United Nations human rights office has called for a full investigation into the incident in order to determine responsibility and ensure transparency.
UN officials noted that attacks on civilian infrastructure such as schools and hospitals are prohibited under international humanitarian law unless they are being used for military purposes.
Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, stated that the forces responsible for the attack should conduct a transparent investigation into the incident.
Images broadcast by Iranian state television showed large funeral gatherings for the victims of the attack.
Footage showed rows of small coffins draped in Iranian flags as thousands of people attended the funeral ceremonies.
These images have intensified global scrutiny of the ongoing conflict and raised concerns about civilian casualties during military operations.
Military Context of the Iran Conflict
The strike occurred during the first phase of coordinated military operations conducted by the United States and Israel against Iran.
According to sources familiar with the planning of the operation, the two countries divided their military targets geographically and strategically.
Israeli forces were primarily targeting missile launch sites and military installations in western Iran, while US forces were reportedly conducting strikes against similar targets and naval assets in southern Iran.
Minab, located near the Strait of Hormuz, falls within the region where US forces were believed to be conducting operations.
Military analysts note that in large-scale conflicts involving multiple simultaneous strikes, determining the precise origin of a specific attack can be complicated.
Such operations often involve numerous missiles, aircraft and other weapons deployed within a short period of time, increasing the risk of targeting errors or misidentification.
Possible Legal and Political Consequences
If the investigation confirms that US forces were responsible for the strike on the school, the incident could become one of the most serious civilian casualty events in recent Middle East conflicts.
Under international humanitarian law, deliberate attacks on schools, hospitals or other civilian infrastructure can be considered war crimes.
However, civilian casualties can also occur unintentionally due to intelligence failures, technical errors or mistaken identification of targets during military operations.
The outcome of the investigation will therefore be closely watched by international organisations, governments and human rights groups.
For now, the investigation continues as US authorities review operational data and other evidence to determine the exact circumstances of the attack.
