General Petraeus: US 'Likely' Behind School Attack in Iran That Killed 168 People
Former CIA Director and ex-Commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), General David Petraeus, has made a striking statement regarding a deadly attack on a school in southern Iran on the first day of conflict. The incident reportedly killed 168 people, the majority of whom were children.
In an interview with BBC News Channel, Petraeus expressed his conviction that the US military was involved in the tragedy. Although he acknowledged not having seen direct investigative evidence, he referred to the type of weaponry used in the conflict.
“Tragically, I am confident that we were very likely the perpetrators. We are the only party possessing Tomahawk missiles in this exercise or special warfare,” Petraeus stated.
Petraeus further suggested there was an intelligence failure concerning the updating of target data. “It appears there was use of outdated information when the building was still part of a broader Iranian naval base installation several years ago,” he added.
In alignment with Petraeus’s statement, BBC’s US news partner CBS reported initial assessment findings indicating that the US was “probably” responsible for the attack. However, the report emphasised that the strike was unintentional and was believed to be the result of a technical or operational error (human error).
Conversely, President Donald Trump had previously expressed his belief that Iran itself conducted the attack. However, this claim was made without supporting evidence, while video footage shows US Tomahawk missiles striking an Iranian military base located near the school.
The tragedy has triggered strong domestic reactions. Nearly all members of the Democratic faction in the US Senate have sent an official letter to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. They are demanding comprehensive answers regarding the attack in Minab that claimed the lives of approximately 110 girls.
The senators are questioning whether outdated target analysis was the primary cause. They are also scrutinising Hegseth’s previous pledge stating there would be no “foolish rules of engagement” in this conflict. The Senate is now pressing for assurance that regulations preventing war crimes remain in effect.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted last week that the United States did not target civilians and that an internal investigation is underway. To date, the Pentagon has not issued an official comment regarding the senators’ letter.
Should US involvement be confirmed legally, this incident would be recorded as one of the worst civilian casualty cases resulting from US military operations in the Middle East in recent decades.