US military commanders ignored warnings that target intelligence was seriously outdated before launching an airstrike that killed 175 people at an Iranian girls' school in Minab on February 28, the first day of the Iran war, CNN reported citing sources on July 8 (local time). Senior commanders rejected the warnings because they prioritized quickly finalizing attack targets in the early phase of the war, according to multiple sources. The US military had failed to update all target-related information in the Defense Department database before beginning airstrikes against Iran, with many targets on the attack list containing information over 10 years old, including data on an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facility located next to the school that was hit.
US Commanders Rejected Outdated Intelligence Warnings
Senior US military commanders did not accept warnings that intelligence information was outdated, citing the need to quickly confirm attack targets in the early phase of the war, sources told CNN. This decision became a direct cause leading to the school strike, according to the sources.
Defense Department Database Contained Decade-Old Target Information
The US military failed to update all target-related information in the Defense Department database to current status before launching airstrikes against Iran, multiple sources said. A significant number of targets on the attack list had information that was over 10 years old. This included information about an IRGC facility that was located next to the girls' school in Minab that was hit.
Commander Decision Led Directly to School Strike
The airstrike hit an elementary school for girls in the Minab area of Iran on February 28, killing at least 175 people including children attending the school and teachers. The target information for the IRGC facility adjacent to the school was among the outdated data in the military database.
FAQ
What happened at the Iranian girls' school in Minab on February 28?
A US airstrike hit an elementary school for girls in Minab, Iran, killing at least 175 people including children and teachers on February 28, the first day of the Iran war.
Why did US commanders launch the strike despite outdated intelligence warnings?
Senior US military commanders rejected warnings about seriously outdated target information because they prioritized quickly finalizing attack targets in the early phase of the war, according to sources cited by CNN on July 8 (local time).
How old was the target intelligence used in the Iran airstrikes?
Multiple sources said a significant number of targets on the US attack list had information over 10 years old, including data on an IRGC facility located next to the school that was struck.