Preliminary findings suggest outdated intelligence contributed to a February 28 strike near an IRGC facility in southern Iran.

Washington, D.C., United States — March 13, 2026 — The U.S. military is investigating a strike that hit an elementary school in southern Iran last month, an incident Iranian state media says killed at least 168 children and 14 teachers, with preliminary findings indicating the attack may have been caused by outdated intelligence used in targeting a nearby military facility.

According to sources briefed on the early stages of the investigation, the February 28 strike struck the Shajareh Tayyiba girls’ elementary school in the city of Minab while U.S. forces were targeting a nearby base operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Investigators believe target coordinates were developed by United States Central Command using older intelligence provided by the Defense Intelligence Agency, according to two individuals familiar with the preliminary findings.

The intelligence reportedly relied in part on satellite imagery from earlier years showing the school and the IRGC base within a single compound.

More recent imagery indicates that the school had been separated from the base by a fence and a newly constructed entrance by 2016. Satellite images from December 2025 also showed civilians, including children, using the school grounds.

Investigation Underway

Officials emphasized that the inquiry is ongoing and that no final conclusions have been announced.

“The incident is under investigation; we defer to the Pentagon for further comment,” a spokesperson for the Defense Intelligence Agency said when asked about the findings.

A spokesperson for U.S. Central Command declined to comment, citing the active investigation.

At the White House, Donald Trump said he was not aware of reports suggesting the U.S. military was responsible when asked by reporters this week.

“I don’t know about that,” Trump said when questioned about the preliminary investigation.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also said the investigation had not yet been completed.

“As the New York Times acknowledges in its own reporting, the investigation is still ongoing,” Leavitt said.

Evidence and Analysis

Video footage geolocated by CNN and recorded from a nearby construction site appeared to show a missile striking inside the IRGC facility before a plume of smoke rose from the direction of the school.

Weapons analysts say the munition seen in the footage appears consistent with a BGM‑109 Tomahawk cruise missile, a precision-guided weapon used by the United States and produced by defense contractor Raytheon.

Iranian state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting published photographs of missile fragments it said were recovered near the site of the strike. Independent verification of the fragments’ origin or exact location has not been confirmed.

Defense officials describe Tomahawk missiles as precision-guided munitions designed to strike specific targets with high accuracy.

Background

The strike occurred during a broader U.S. campaign targeting Iranian military infrastructure amid escalating conflict between Washington and Tehran.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier this week the incident would be “thoroughly investigated,” adding that U.S. forces attempt “in every way possible to avoid civilian casualties.”

He also accused Iran of conducting attacks that target civilians indiscriminately during the conflict.

What Happens Next

The Pentagon has not provided a timeline for completing the investigation, but officials say the review will examine targeting procedures, intelligence sources and command decisions involved in the strike.

If confirmed, the incident could intensify scrutiny of U.S. military operations in Iran and raise further questions about civilian protection during ongoing hostilities.

Iranian authorities have already condemned the attack and held public funerals for victims in Minab, while international observers are awaiting the results of the U.S. investigation to determine responsibility for the deadly strike.