From the Guardian · · 2m
UN finds US behind Iran school bombing
A fact-finding mission concludes the US military strike that killed 156 civilians, including 120 children, constituted a war crime.
In brief
A fact-finding mission concludes the US military strike that killed 156 civilians, including 120 children, constituted a war crime. The UN determined the US used outdated targeting intelligence and struck a clearly identifiable school with reckless disregard for civilian casualties. Originally reported by the Guardian.
UN finds US behind school strike
A UN fact-finding mission determined there are reasonable grounds to believe the US military struck a primary school in Minab, Iran on February 28, killing 156 civilians including 120 children.
“reasonable grounds to believe the United States committed the war crime of launching indiscriminate attacks”
Tomahawk missile collapsed school roof
A US Tomahawk missile struck Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school, which was clearly identifiable as a civilian building. The strike collapsed the roof and killed 156 people.
Second strike hit sports complex
On the same day, the US struck a sports complex and residential area in Lamerd with a weapon that scattered tungsten pellets, killing and injuring 22 civilians.
Outdated intelligence blamed for strike
The US relied on intelligence suggesting a senior Iranian military commander was at the school but failed to verify the information before launching the strike. Targeting data used during the war was dangerously outdated.
“the failure to update targeting intelligence and confirm the building was a military objective amounted to more than mere negligence”
UN calls strikes indiscriminate attacks
The UN mission found the school strike constituted an indiscriminate attack and war crime. The US struck the building while aware of substantial risk to civilians and acting recklessly.
“the US directed the strikes at the building of the school while being aware of a substantial risk of striking a civilian object”
Trump denied purposeful school attack
In June, President Donald Trump said nobody had purposely attacked a girls' school in Iran in February, citing an investigation. The Pentagon has since elevated the inquiry but has not published findings.
Iran also committed crimes against humanity
The UN mission found Iranian authorities committed crimes against humanity during their crackdown on anti-government protests that began in late December, involving unlawful killings, torture, and arbitrary detention.
Death toll likely far higher than reported
The UN said it could not independently verify Iran's official death toll of 3,038 from the protests but believed the actual number of dead and injured was probably far higher.
The takeaway
The UN determined the US used outdated targeting intelligence and struck a clearly identifiable school with reckless disregard for civilian casualties.
