US behind strike on Iranian school – NYT

American forces were likely responsible for the bombing of an elementary school in the southern Iranian town of Minab that left at least 168 children dead, as well as teachers and staff, the New York Times concluded in an analysis published on Thursday. 

The February 28 strike on the Shajarah Tayyebeh girls’ school came on the first day of the unprovoked US-Israeli attack on Iran that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian commanders, as well as hundreds of civilians. Attacks continue to date. 

In its analysis, which was based on newly released satellite imagery, verified social media posts and geolocated videos, NYT concluded that the school was hit by precision strikes at the same time as multiple attacks by US forces on an adjacent naval base belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). 

Historical imagery shows the school building was partitioned off from the military compound in 2016 and bore clear hallmarks of a civilian educational facility, including a sports field and children’s murals.  

Wes J. Bryant, a former US Air Force targeting expert, told NYT the strikes were “picture perfect” target hits, suggesting the school was either a “target misidentification” or struck based on outdated intelligence. 

The BBC published a similar analysis on Thursday, noting that satellite images suggest the school was hit multiple times judging by the burn marks around the building and that the close proximity of the impact sites between the IRGC base and the school suggest “it was intentional to hit the area.” 

The White House and Pentagon have offered evasive responses with press secretary Karoline Leavitt telling reporters on Wednesday that “the Department of War is investigating this matter.” War Secretary Pete Hegseth insisted US forces “never target civilian targets.”