Pentagon commanders reportedly did not order a routine intelligence review following a missile strike that hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, Iran, on February 28, resulting in the deaths of 168 children and 14 adults, according to a CNN report. The initial stages of a battle damage assessment confirmed U.S. involvement in the attack, but the third phase, typically conducted by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), was not initiated. Sources indicated that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) restricted access to the investigation materials, which could have informed future operations to prevent similar incidents.
An independent investigation was announced in March, but it was reported that CENTCOM has limited access to its findings. A Defense Department official stated that the investigation is ongoing. Discrepancies exist regarding the reasons for the lack of a third review, with some sources suggesting that both an independent probe and a traditional review could have occurred simultaneously. Evidence emerged shortly after the strike indicating that outdated intelligence contributed to the incident, as the site was mistakenly believed to be a naval base for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Reports indicate that senior commanders ignored warnings about outdated intelligence and approved the strike, which was attributed to a rushed decision-making process at the onset of the war. Lawmakers have expressed frustration over the withholding of information regarding the incident, with a group of Democratic senators demanding transparency from military leaders. Former President Donald Trump, when questioned about the findings, suggested that determining the exact cause of the tragedy may be impossible, while acknowledging the possibility of old intelligence or a mistake by U.S. forces being factors in the incident.