A Pentagon investigation has confirmed that a U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile was responsible for a devastating strike on an Iranian girls' school that claimed at least 165 lives, predominantly children. The formal probe, launched following preliminary assessments, represents one of the deadliest incidents involving American military action against civilian targets in recent years.
According to a U.S. defense official speaking on condition of anonymity, the military assessment concluded that the missile strike was the result of a targeting error during what was intended to be a precision operation against military infrastructure. The official emphasized that civilian casualties were never the intended outcome of the mission.
The incident has sparked intense scrutiny within the Pentagon and among congressional oversight committees, with lawmakers demanding a comprehensive review of targeting procedures and rules of engagement. Iranian officials have condemned the strike as a deliberate attack on civilians, further escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
Defense Secretary officials indicated that the investigation will examine all aspects of the mission planning and execution, including intelligence gathering, target verification protocols, and the chain of command decisions that led to the tragic outcome. The findings are expected to prompt significant changes to military engagement procedures in the region.
