New Reports Suggest US Likely Responsible for Iran School Bombing

Emerging evidence suggests that the US is responsible for the Feb. 28 bombing of Shajarah Tayyebeh Girls' School in Iran.

For Context: The missile attack killed 165 people, most of whom were schoolchildren, according to Iranian state media. It was launched hours after the US and Israel first began "Operation Epic Fury" against Iran. Satellite imagery confirmed the strike, though no group has taken responsibility as of this article's publishing. Amid several accusations that the US and Israel attacked the school (intentionally or unintentionally), President Donald Trump asserted, "It was done by Iran." Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth more ambiguously said an investigation is underway, but Iran is "the only side that targets civilians." Read more about initial coverage of the bombing.

HRW Report: Human Rights Watch (Center bias), an independent watchdog group, determined the following on Saturday:

• A full investigation of war crimes is needed for the "unlawful attack." The attack's structure "indicate[s] that the attack was carried out by highly accurate, guided munitions, rather than errant weapons whose guidance or propulsion systems failed or were otherwise disrupted and randomly struck the area."
• US/Israel Criticisms: The US and Israel "should immediately assess their responsibility for this attack and make the findings public… Human Rights Watch is concerned that under the second Trump administration, the Defense Department has deliberately and systematically weakened its domestic protections meant to ensure its compliance with the laws of armed conflict."
• Iran Criticisms: The school is located within an Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) Naval compound. "If any of the facilities within the compound were used for military purposes, Iranian authorities would appear to have been placing civilians at unnecessary risk and therefore also would have been in violation of the laws of war."

How The Media Covered It: Media on the left largely reported on the US' probable responsibility for the strike. Associated Press (Left), for example, reported "mounting evidence" of US culpability. The Wall Street Journal (Center) also covered such evidence but noted the school's attachment to the military compound in its headline. Media on the right omitted coverage almost entirely, though some outlets, such as New York Post (Lean Right), led their reports with Trump's alternative claims. 

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