Washington – A United Nations fact‑finding mission concluded that two U.S. airstrikes in Iran – one that hit an elementary school in Minab and another that struck a sports center in Lamerd – may constitute war crimes because they appear to have been indiscriminate attacks on civilians. The report, which cites satellite imagery and interviews, says at least 156 people, including 120 children and 26 teachers, were killed in the school strike on Feb. 28.
Administration’s response
A senior State Department official told CNN that the Trump administration does not find the UN report credible. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the UN Human Rights Council in February 2025, calling the body “anti‑Semitic” and asserting that it should not dictate U.S. military policy. The Department of Defense said an internal investigation is ongoing but offered no further comment.
Details of the strikes
According to the UN mission, the Minab school strike resulted from outdated intelligence that confused the school’s location with a nearby Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval base. Satellite images from 2013 show the school and the base were once part of the same compound; a fence erected in 2016 separated them, and a new entrance was built for the school. Images from Dec. 2025 show children playing in the school courtyard, and the UN found no evidence the school was being used for military purposes.
The second strike hit a sports center and residential area in Lamerd, killing 22 civilians. The UN investigators said they have “reasonable grounds to believe the United States committed the war crime of launching indiscriminate attacks resulting in the loss of life or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects.”
U.S. investigative process
Sources briefed on the Pentagon’s internal review said the first two stages – confirming the target was hit and establishing U.S. responsibility – were completed within a week of the strike. However, the third stage, a comprehensive review of satellite imagery and intelligence by the Defense Intelligence Agency, has not yet been ordered. Another independent investigation interviewing service members involved in the strike is reportedly locked down, with only a few officers granted access.
UN criticism of Iran
The same UN report also documented Iran’s crackdown on anti‑government protesters in late 2025 and early 2026, describing it as a “widespread and systematic attack on civilians” that amounts to crimes against humanity.
Trump administration’s position
President Trump has suggested Iran could be responsible for the school strike, but when pressed on the lack of supporting evidence from his own team, he admitted, “Because I just don’t know enough about it.” The administration continues to emphasize that the United States acted in self‑defense against Iranian aggression and that any investigation will be conducted with full respect for American sovereignty and the rule of law.
What’s next?
The UN mission plans to submit its findings to the UN Human Rights Council, though the United States is no longer a member. The Pentagon’s internal investigation remains pending, and the State Department has not scheduled a briefing with U.S. officials. As the debate over the strikes continues, the Trump administration maintains that the United States acted within its legal authority and that the UN report lacks credibility.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
