Outdated intelligence likely to blame for US strike on Iranian girls school

Defense &National Security

Defense &National Security

Outdated intelligence likely to blame for US strike on Iranian girls school

The U.S. is responsible for a deadly Tomahawk missile strike on an all-girls Iranian elementary school, according to preliminary findings from an ongoing military investigation.

The Feb. 28 strike on the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school building, which killed at least 175 people, 168 of them children, was due to a targeting error by the U.S. military, The New York Times reported.

American forces were conducting strikes on a nearby Iranian base that had once extended onto the school grounds, which had since been walled off, cleared out for play areas and painted in bright colors. U.S. Central Command officers created target coordinates for the strike using outdated data provided by the Defense Intelligence Agency, people briefed on the investigation told the outlet. 

It is still unknown why officials did not verify the outdated information prior to the attacks, which hit the school in Minab in southern Iran the day joint U.S.-Israeli strikes began in the region. 

The Pentagon declined to comment on the report, telling The Hill that the incident was under investigation. President Trump told reporters Wednesday he was unaware of the report.

Trump previously blamed Iran for the deadly incident, telling reporters Saturday that Tehran struck the school, even as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to say the same. 

The president doubled down on Monday, suggesting Iran was in possession of Tomahawk missiles. He claimed the missiles are “sold to other countries,” despite the U.S. military being the only known fighting force to use the munition in the current conflict.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday insisted Trump “is not making anything up,” and that he is making statements as a “feeling based on fact.” 

She added that Trump would accept the findings of the Pentagon’s investigation.

The devastating strike — one of the largest single errors by the U.S. military in decades, if confirmed — has caused outrage, with Democratic lawmakers calling for answers from the Trump administration on the attack.

A group of 46 mostly Democratic senators on Wednesday sent a letter to Hegseth demanding “a swift investigation” into the strikes “and any other potential U.S. military actions causing civilian harm,” with findings along with “any measures to pursue accountability” released to the public.

Read the full report at thehill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.

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How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future:

Scaramucci: Gas prices could fall a few weeks after bombardment in Iran ends

Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci said gas prices might fall a few weeks after the U.S. bombardment against Iran is done. “Listen, you’re going to probably be surprised by what I’m saying because I’m generally a critic of President Trump, but, if they solve this, if they de-escalate, and I think what your last guest doesn’t really understand is the president and the administration’s …

Senate Democrats press Pentagon on Iran school bombing

A group of 46 mostly Democratic senators on Wednesday sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seeking answers on the bombing of a school in Iran. An Iranian school for girls near a naval base in Minab was hit on Feb. 28 in the first wave of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. More than 100 children were killed in the strike, which U.S. officials say they are investigating. “There must be a swift investigation into the …

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Upcoming things we’re watching on our beat: 

The Association of the U.S. Army will hear from Brent Ingraham, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow.

The Reagan Institute‘s Center for Peace Through Strength will hold its 2026 National Security Innovation Base Summit, tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies will discuss Turkey’s strategic calculus in the Iran war at 12 p.m. tomorrow.

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy will host a forum on “Countering threats from Iran’s proxies and partners during wartime” tomorrow at 1 p.m.

The Institute of World Politics will have a conversation on “Private Military Contractors: Understanding the Non-State Actors Changing the Institution of War,” at 5 p.m. tomorrow.

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Trump support for warrantless spy powers could jeopardize Democratic backing

President Trump throwing his support behind renewing the U.S.’s warrantless surveillance powers could complicate efforts to secure Democratic support for reauthorizing the spy authority amid concerns the White House would abuse the tool. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) …

Serving Those Who Serve | March 17 in Washington, D.C. | In person & streaming nationally 

Join The Hill & PMI to discuss Tobacco Harm Reduction for the military. Explore how federal policy can support those who serve in switching to smoke-free alternatives. Register now.

Dr. Tom Price, former HHS secretary

Dr. Stephen Ferrara, principal deputy assistant secretary of war for health affairs, Military Health System, Defense Department

Chelsey Simoni, co-founder & chief health officer, HunterSeven Foundation

Danny Vargas, founder, chairman & CEO, American Latino Veterans Association

News we’ve flagged from other outlets:

U.S. at fault in strike on school in Iran, preliminary inquiry says (The New York Times)

The U.S. built a blueprint to avoid civilian war casualties. Trump officials scrapped it. (ProPublica)

MAGA war skeptics rage over Lindsey Graham (Politico)

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

FBI warns Iran ‘aspired’ to strike California coast with drones

The FBI recently warned California police departments of Iran potentially launching a retaliatory attack on the West Coast, according to multiple outlets … Read more

Key takeaways from Tuesday’s elections: Georgia, Mississippi, New Hampshire

A handful of special and primary elections in Georgia, Mississippi and New Hampshire on Tuesday underscored Democrats’ overperformance streak … Read more

Opinions in The Hill 

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Drones pose a massive domestic national security threat — is the US ready?

US military supremacy shines as China fails big in Iran, Venezuela

The stakes are high in the Pentagon’s battle against ‘woke AI’

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