Iran names two US officers over Minab school strike, shares images

Iran on Saturday accused two US Navy officers of carrying out a missile strike on a school in Minab that it said killed around 175 people, as a US military review indicated the attack may have resulted from an intelligence error.

Iran’s embassies in several countries shared images of two officers, Leigh R Tate, commanding officer, and Jeffrey E York, executive officer of the USS Spruance. They alleged the officers authorised the launch of three Tomahawk missiles that led to the strike on a girls’ school.

In a post on X, Iranian diplomatic missions described the officers as ‘criminals’ and claimed the attack killed 168 children. Some posts also questioned the justification for the strike.

“Remember these two criminals. Leigh R. Tate, the commander, and Jeffrey E. York, the executive officer of the USS Spruance, who ordered the launch of Tomahawk missiles three times, killing 168 innocent children at a school in #Minab,” post on X.

At a debate in Geneva, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi termed the strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ School a deliberate and phased operation carried out on the first day of the conflict. He said more than 175 students and teachers were killed.

Meanwhile, as per reports, a US military review has pointed to a possible error. Preliminary findings cited in reports suggested that outdated intelligence may have been used in identifying the target.

Officials reportedly said the missile was intended for a nearby military facility that had previously been part of the same site, but faulty mapping may have resulted in the school being hit instead.

US authorities said the inquiry is ongoing and key questions remain, including why the intelligence was not adequately verified. Washington has maintained that it does not target civilian sites.

US President Donald Trump, however, suggested that Iran itself could be responsible, alleging that its weapons systems are often inaccurate.