In fact, there is a new investigation by the Pentagon regarding the deadly strike on the girls’ school in Iran, which resulted in the deaths of at least 165 civilians, most of whom were children. Initial investigations suggest that the attack was possibly caused by a U.S. missile. This has been confirmed by a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity since they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
This investigation is expected to take months, and the process will involve examining the whole decision process regarding the strike. This will include interviews with the military personnel and commanders involved in the operation.
If the investigation confirms that the attack was conducted by the U.S., it is likely to be among the most deadly incidents involving civilian casualties linked to the U.S. military in decades.
According to Anna Kelly, the White House spokesperson:
“The United States does not target civilians. In fact, it is the exact opposite with the Iranian government.”
The Pentagon has not commented on the matter yet regarding further details.
Evidence Suggests Tomahawk Missiles
The early reporting and the visual evidence indicate the use of Tomahawk cruise missiles. The video footage, which has been released by Iranian state media, indicates the impact of the missile on the compound, which included the girls’ school. The images, which were released afterward, indicated the presence of missile parts, which appeared to be Tomahawk missile parts.
The analysis of the video footage, which has been done by military experts, indicates that the missile appears to be the U.S.-made cruise missile, which is used by only a few countries. The experts indicate that the U.S. is the only country in the current conflict which uses the Tomahawk missiles.
According to N.R. Jenzen-Jones, the director of Armament Research Services, the information indicates the targeting mistake.
“It looks like a strike that went wrong,” he said. “The most likely explanation is an intelligence failure somewhere in the targeting process.”
Possible Targeting Error
The school is located in an area called Minab in Iran and was formerly an Iranian Revolutionary Guard military base. The facility has undergone significant changes over the last decade, as shown in historical satellite images.
Between 2013 and 2016, there were walls and fencing separating the girls’ school from the military base. The changes might not have been factored into earlier U.S. target lists, which still showed this compound as a military facility.
A public health clinic in the area was also targeted during the strike. Satellite imagery indicates that the public health clinic was opened in 2024 and had been separated from the military base since 2024. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander-in-chief, Hossein Salami, opened this facility before he was assassinated by Israel in the same year.
Questions About Civilian Protection Policies
The school is located in an area called Minab in Iran and was formerly an Iranian Revolutionary Guard military base. The facility has undergone significant changes over the last decade, as shown in historical satellite images.
Between 2013 and 2016, there were walls and fencing separating the girls’ school from the military base. The changes might not have been factored into earlier U.S. target lists, which still showed this compound as a military facility.
A public health clinic in the area was also targeted during the strike. Satellite imagery indicates that the public health clinic was opened in 2024 and had been separated from the military base since 2024. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander-in-chief, Hossein Salami, opened this facility before he was assassinated by Israel in the same year.
Investigation Could Take Months
The reports will be studied by the Pentagon investigators, and the intelligence reports, targeting procedures, and decision-making processes before the strike will be reviewed. Military officials will also assess if the tragedy could have been caused by outdated intelligence, decreased oversight, or operational failures.
The results will establish accountability for the attack and could shape the future of US military strategies to avoid civilian casualties in war-torn countries.
