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.”
Hellbound and Down 