U.S. Denies Responsibility for Deadly Strike on Iranian Girls' School

On February 28, 2026, a strike in Minab, Iran, reportedly resulted in the deaths of up to 175 individuals, primarily schoolgirls aged 7 to 12, at Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school. Iranian state media and health officials reported that the attack occurred during the school day, leading to significant casualties among students. The U.S. and Israeli governments have not claimed responsibility for the incident, and independent verification of the circumstances and death toll has not been possible due to restricted access for journalists.

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt firmly denied U.S. involvement in the strike, stating, “Not that we know of,” when questioned about the attack during a press briefing. She emphasized that the Pentagon is investigating the incident and reiterated that U.S. military operations do not intentionally target civilians. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed this sentiment, asserting that the U.S. does not engage in targeting civilian sites.

Leavitt also highlighted the administration's stance that the military's protocols differ significantly from those of the Iranian regime, cautioning against attributing blame to U.S. forces. Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that the U.S. would not deliberately target a school, focusing instead on military objectives related to missile capabilities.

The strike was part of a broader military operation, dubbed 'Operation Epic Fury,' which the Trump administration framed as a preemptive measure against an imminent threat from Iran. Leavitt indicated that President Donald Trump acted based on intelligence suggesting that Iran was preparing to strike U.S. assets. She noted that while intelligence regarding the location of Iranian leadership influenced the operation's timing, it was Trump's intuition about an impending threat that primarily guided the decision-making process.

Leavitt criticized media coverage of the incident, accusing outlets of "misreporting and intellectual dishonesty" regarding the rationale for the strikes. This response came amid scrutiny over conflicting narratives within the administration about the lead-up to the military action. While some officials suggested that an imminent Israeli strike necessitated U.S. involvement, Trump claimed he had compelled Israel to act, denying any pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The reported death toll and circumstances surrounding the strike remain contentious, with Iranian officials labeling the victims as "young child martyrs." However, the U.S. administration continues to assert that civilian casualties were not an intended outcome of their operations. The ongoing Pentagon investigation aims to clarify the details of the incident, including the type of ordnance used and the proximity of military targets to the school.

• “Leavitt: Not that we know of.” — Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary

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• “The United States would not deliberately target a school.” — Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

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• “All I can say is that we’re investigating, and that we of course never target civilian targets,” — Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary

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