Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Washington, March 11 (Xinhua) — An ongoing military investigation has preliminarily determined that the strike by a U.S. Tomahawk missile on an Iranian elementary school, which killed more than 160 people, mostly students, was the result of a targeting error, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.
Officials familiar with the investigation told the publication that officers at U.S. Central Command based the strike coordinates on outdated intelligence provided by the Defense Intelligence Agency, which led to the targeting error.
It is noted that the conclusion is still preliminary and some key questions remain unanswered, including why outdated information was not re-verified.
The February 28 attack on Shajare Tayyebeh Elementary School in the city of Minab was part of US attacks targeting a nearby Iranian military base.
As the publication points out, although the conclusion was largely expected, since the United States is the only party in the conflict known to use Tomahawk missiles, the incident has already cast a shadow over the American military operation against Iran.
US President Donald Trump continues to repeat that Iran, not the United States, is responsible for the attack on the school.
“From what I’ve seen, Iran did it,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on March 7.
Tomahawk missiles “are sold and used by other countries,” Trump said on March 9, adding that “Iran also has several Tomahawk missiles.”
“As The New York Times itself acknowledged in its reporting, the investigation is still ongoing,” White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said in a statement.
Analysts say the attack on a school full of students can be considered one of the most fatal military mistakes of recent decades. –0–
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