Full Breakdown
U.S. President Questions Accountability for Deadly Minab Girls' School Strike
6/25/2026, 4:41:25 AM
The Fatal Strike on a Girls' School in Minab
On February 28, 2026, a missile strike hit a girls' school in Minab, a city in southern Iran, killing scores of children and teachers. The attack occurred on the first day of the Iran war, when U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes against Iranian targets.
Background and Immediate Context
Reuters reported that the February strike was part of a broader U.S.-Israel offensive against Iran on the war's opening day. Initial media coverage suggested the United States might have been responsible, prompting an internal military review.
Timeline of Key Developments
- February 28, 2026 – Missile strike hits Minab girls' school, killing over 175 children and teachers.
- March 2026 – Reuters reports an internal U.S. military review indicating U.S. forces were likely responsible.
- June 24, 2026 – President Donald Trump says attribution may never be resolved and expresses doubt about U.S. involvement.
Data and Casualties
Iranian officials reported that more than 175 children and teachers died in the Minab school attack.
Official Statements and Responses
President Donald Trump told reporters that he does not expect a definitive attribution, noting the presence of multiple missiles and expressing doubt that the United States was responsible. The Pentagon has elevated the internal probe but has not released preliminary findings. U.S. officials have publicly stated that Washington would not deliberately target a school. The United Nations human-rights office described the incident as “absolutely horrific.” Trump added that he will accept the inquiry’s findings when they become available.
Criticism and Opposition
The strike provoked global outrage, with the United Nations human-rights office labeling it a horrific act that could constitute a war crime under international humanitarian law. Critics have highlighted the possibility that outdated U.S. targeting data contributed to the error.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
Sources familiar with the March internal U.S. investigation say U.S. forces were likely responsible, possibly due to outdated targeting data. The Pentagon has not confirmed these findings, and President Trump has said he sees no evidence implicating the United States. Earlier statements from the administration blamed Iran without evidence. No definitive attribution has been released, leaving the responsible party unidentified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I don't know that they are ever going to solve that problem,” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
- “I don't know that they are ever going to solve that problem in terms of whose fault was it because there were missiles flying all over the place, and it's horrible what happened but there were missiles flying all over the place,” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
- “Somebody said it was our missile, maybe it wasn't our missile but I have seen nothing to lead me to believe ?it was,” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
- “I don't think it was us.” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
- “absolutely horrific.” — United Nations Human Rights Office
