The U.S. navy stated on Friday (March 13, 2026) it has elevated the investigation right into a devastating February 28 strike on an Iranian ladies’ faculty after media stories revealed the probe reveals U.S. forces have been doubtless accountable.
Iran has stated the strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh College killed 168 kids. If U.S. fault is confirmed, it will rank among the many worst incidents of civilian deaths in a long time of U.S. navy strikes in West Asia. Reuters first reported the investigation’s preliminary findings on March 5.
Citing the seriousness of the matter, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to touch upon the preliminary discovering of the investigation, saying: “We’re not going to let reporting lead us or drive our hand into indicating what occurred.”
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He stated a higher-level investigation can be led by an unnamed U.S. basic officer from exterior of U.S. Central Command, which is overseeing operations in opposition to Iran. Such a transfer is often taken by the U.S. navy to make sure larger independence for investigators.
“The command investigation will take so long as obligatory to handle all of the issues surrounding this incident,” Mr. Hegseth advised a press convention on the Pentagon.
Iran’s new supreme chief blamed the nation’s enemies for the varsity strike in his first message to the nation on Thursday (March 12, 2026), with out explicitly saying the U.S. was accountable.
Probe can be utilized for disciplinary motion
Three U.S. officers advised Reuters the command investigation Mr. Hegseth referred to is an administrative probe often known as a 15-6, which may change into the idea for disciplinary motion if warranted. It often consists of sworn statements or interviews with these concerned. The officers spoke on situation of anonymity to explain inner navy processes.
The pinnacle of U.S. Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, ordered the 15-6 probe final week after the preliminary overview was accomplished. The surface officer was appointed on Thursday (March 12, 2026), one official stated.
The event underscores the intense concern about how to answer doable U.S. duty for the tragedy and the necessity to comprehensively look at the incident.
“It alerts a recognition that one thing went improper and to attempt to perceive what occurred and why,” stated Annie Shiel, U.S. advocacy director with the Middle for Civilians in Battle.
What we learn about alleged strike on Iran faculty
Trump initially blamed Iran
It stays unclear how U.S. forces might have struck the varsity. Preliminary findings recommend U.S. forces might have relied upon outdated focusing on knowledge that apparently didn’t distinguish between the varsity and the adjoining Iranian navy base in Minab, a city in southern Iran. Video and different proof recommend the varsity was hit by a Tomahawk cruise missile, a highly effective, precision-guided munition that few nations aside from the U.S. possess.
The investigation comes regardless of public feedback by President Donald Trump initially doubting the opportunity of U.S. involvement that stoked concern amongst some protection officers about whether or not he can be prepared to simply accept blame.
The president initially stated, with out providing proof, that Iran might have attacked the varsity and prompt Tehran might have Tomahawk missiles, which navy specialists name extraordinarily unlikely.
Nonetheless, Mr. Trump on Monday (March 9, 2026) stated publicly he would “actually” settle for the outcomes of the U.S. investigation: “Regardless of the report reveals, I’m prepared to reside with that report.”
A second U.S. official pointed to these remarks as proof that Trump was shifting towards accepting the preliminary investigation outcomes. Additional, the official stated public dialogue of the investigation had made it politically troublesome for Mr. Trump to reject the findings as soon as they’re finalized.
The official famous {that a} 15-6 investigation mirrored the seriousness of the Trump administration’s strategy to the investigation as a result of it will comprehensively look at what went improper and methods to right these points.
College’s on-line presence
A Reuters visible investigation printed on Thursday (March 12, 2026) confirmed the Iranian faculty had a years-long, public on-line presence, together with dozens of pictures of the kids and their actions.
The Shajareh Tayyebeh College was one in all 59 faculties throughout the Persian Gulf Martyrs’ Cultural Instructional Institute, a community affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the navy drive that stories to Iran’s supreme chief, in accordance with archived copies of the community’s web site.
United Nations ‘deeply disturbed’ by strike on Iran faculty that killed over 160 kids
The college’s web site consists of pictures of scholars gathered within the yard, which matched verified movies exterior the constructing after the strike.
Satellite tv for pc imagery from mid-2015 reveals the constructing was walled off from the Iranian navy base and seems to have operated as a college since not less than 2018, when the painted murals are first seen on its outer partitions.
Printed – March 14, 2026 03:25 am IST