US warplanes 'likely responsible' for Minab school massacre in Iran, internal probe shows

Multiple investigations concluded the massacre of dozens of schoolgirls was the result of a ‘double-tap’ attack intended to maximize civilian casualties

News Desk

MAR 6, 2026

https://thecradle.co/articles/us-warplanes-likely-responsible-for-minab-school-massacre-in-iran-internal-probe-shows

US investigators probing the deadly attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' elementary school in the Iranian city of Minab believe a US military strike is the most likely cause of the bombing that killed over 180 people, of whom at least 165 were children, according to US officials who spoke to Reuters.

Two US officials told the outlet that the investigation remains ongoing and that a final determination has not been reached.

However, preliminary findings suggest the strike was most likely carried out by US forces, though they added that additional evidence could still emerge that changes the conclusion.

Reports and investigations by multiple outlets have reached a similar conclusion.

An investigation by the New York Times (NYT), based on satellite imagery, verified videos, and social media material, found the school had been hit by a precision strike at the same time that nearby targets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) came under attack.

A similar recent investigation by Middle East Eye (MEE) indicated the site was struck twice, describing the incident as a so-called “double-tap” strike.

A double-tap strike is a tactic meant to maximize civilian casualties in which a second missile hits the same location shortly after the first, deliberately killing survivors and rescuers who rush to the scene to help the wounded.

The BBC later reported that satellite imagery and open-source evidence suggested the area was struck by multiple simultaneous or near-simultaneous attacks.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt deflected accusations of deliberate targeting, telling Reuters that “the Iranian regime targets civilians and children, not the United States of America.”

Meanwhile, the UN human rights office has called for an independent investigation into the incident, with spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani telling reporters in Geneva that “the onus is on the forces that carried out the attack to investigate it,” without naming a responsible party.

Less than one week into the US-Israeli attack on Iran, Iranian authorities said that at least 1,230 people have been killed, with thousands of residential and commercial buildings destroyed and repeated strikes reported on civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, sports facilities, and heritage sites. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed at least 13 attacks on health facilities in Iran, while the Iranian Red Crescent Society said 3,646 homes, 528 commercial units, and 14 medical centers were damaged, with three hospitals completely disabled.