The US military hasn’t conducted a standard review of intelligence tied to a strike on a school in Iran, sources say. The investigation into the strike, which hit the Shajareh Tayyiba school in Minab, has been delayed, fueling outrage from lawmakers.

Background of the Strike

Within a week of the strike, the first two stages of a “battle damage assessment” had been completed, indicating that the US was responsible for striking the school. However, a third standard review stage, where analysts review the entire body of relevant satellite imagery and other intelligence sources, was not ordered.

The decision to launch the investigation should not have precluded the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) from conducting the more thorough third phase of the review, according to sources. The DIA typically fulfills its traditional role of completing the in-depth analysis.

Investigation and Controversy

An independent investigation was launched, and interviews were conducted with service members involved with the strike. However, the information gained from interviews has been “locked down” by US Central Command, with only a handful of officers permitted access to the details.

The lack of a full review of the intelligence is unprecedented for a noteworthy strike, according to sources. The Pentagon and CENTCOM have increasingly used classification powers to restrict access to even basic information and planning details.

Lawmakers in Congress have demanded the Pentagon turn over all relevant materials, but the delay in completing the investigation has fueled outrage. The Pentagon has not asked the DIA to conduct the third and final phase of the battle damage assessment, a role the agency almost always fulfills.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.