Missile Strike on Iranian Girls’ School Kills Over 170, Probe Points to Possible US Targeting Error
A tragic development has emerged from the ongoing conflict in Iran after a missile strike destroyed the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school in the southern city of Minab, killing around 170–175 people, most of them schoolchildren.
The attack took place on February 28, 2026, during the first wave of military strikes in the current Iran war. Rescue teams reported that the school building collapsed after the missile impact while classes were underway.
Preliminary Investigation Points to US Missile
Early findings from a U.S. military investigation suggest the strike was likely carried out by the United States military using a Tomahawk cruise missile, though officials emphasize that the investigation is still ongoing.
Investigators believe the missile was originally aimed at a nearby facility linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). However, the school—located close to the compound—may have been mistakenly identified as part of the military site due to outdated targeting data used during the operation.
Questions Over AI and Targeting Systems
Reports indicate that advanced targeting systems and artificial intelligence tools were used to identify military targets during the broader operation. Analysts say outdated or incorrect data in these systems may have contributed to the tragic misidentification.
The incident has intensified global debate about the growing role of AI in modern warfare and the risks associated with automated or data-driven targeting systems.
Trump’s Earlier Claim Disputed
Earlier, Donald Trump suggested that Iran might have been responsible for the bombing. However, emerging evidence—including missile fragments and satellite imagery—has pointed investigators toward a likely U.S. strike instead.
International Concern
The attack has drawn international criticism and calls for an independent investigation. Under international law, deliberate attacks on civilian facilities such as schools could constitute war crimes, though officials stress that the strike appears to have been an error rather than an intentional targeting of civilians.
As investigations continue, the tragedy in Minab is already being described by analysts as one of the deadliest civilian casualty incidents of the ongoing Iran conflict.