United States military investigators believe it is likely that U.S. forces were responsible for a strike on a girls' school in Iran on Saturday that killed scores of children, two U.S. officials told Reuters The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed that this is a preliminary assessment and that the investigation is not yet complete
This tentative conclusion marks a significant development amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday acknowledged the American military was investigating the incident, but no further details were provided The investigators have not yet reached a final conclusion, and the officials noted that new evidence could emerge that points to another party being responsible for the attack Key details about the strike, including the type of munition used and the specific circumstances leading to the school being hit, have not been determined or publicly released pending the inquiry's completion
The incident underscores the severe risk of civilian casualties in the escalating conflict. If U.S. responsibility is officially confirmed, the strike would represent one of the deadliest incidents of civilian harm involving the U.S. military in recent years and would carry profound strategic implications. The outcome of the Pentagon’s investigation will be closely scrutinized by international bodies and governments worldwide, shaping diplomatic relations and the debate over accountability and the laws of armed conflict. The immediate focus remains on verifying the facts as the investigation proceeds.
Mohsin Rana
