AI use, faulty intel, dated imagery: The US ‘kill chain’ behind Iran school strike that killed 123
The missile strike on the school in Minab represents the worst incident of civilian harm resulting from US operations in decades.
An internal Pentagon investigation revealed that the U.S. heavily relied on artificial intelligence for preparations leading to a strike that targeted an elementary school in Iran's Minab region. According to Bloomberg, the strike that took place at the beginning of the U.S.-Iran war resulted in the deaths of 123 children. Faulty intelligence, outdated imagery, and an overdependence on AI were identified as key factors contributing to the incident.
The missile attack on the school in Minab stands as one of the most severe cases of civilian casualties resulting from U.S. military operations in recent times. In March, Pentagon officials confirmed that two Tomahawk missiles hit the Shajarah Tayyebeh Elementary School on February 28. Some personnel reportedly became aware of the U.S. involvement within hours.
The report further highlighted that the Trump administration's initial order for an aggressive air assault at the start of the war with Iran left limited time to finalize targets. Over 1,000 targets were struck by the U.S. within the first 24 hours of the war. Additionally, the report shed light on the reduction of civilian-protection personnel and inconsistencies in the available information regarding the site, which had previously been part of a military compound, was later walled off and operated as a school.
The use of AI, particularly Palantir's Maven Smart System, was also criticized by officials, as some U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) personnel over-relied on the system, expecting it to identify outdated or inconsistent intelligence. Palantir has since developed new tools to review underpinning intelligence and flag inconsistencies that human review might have overlooked.
A UN-backed fact-finding mission reported to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that there were reasonable grounds to believe the U.S. committed war crimes in the two February airstrikes, including the one targeting the Minab school.
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