Iran Names US Navy Officers Behind Deadliest Minab School Strike That Killed Over 170
Iran has named two US Navy officers it says were responsible for a missile strike on a school in Minab on February 28 that killed around 168 children, as the conflict in the Gulf region continues to grow.
The strike happened near the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipping, making the situation important for both regional security and maritime trade.
Iranian embassies in countries including India, South Africa and Nigeria shared posts on X identifying the officers as Leigh R Tate, the commanding officer, and Jeffrey E York, the executive officer of the USS Spruance.
The posts claimed the two officers ordered the launch of Tomahawk missiles three times, which led to the deaths of children at the school. The messages described them as criminals and questioned how they could justify their actions.
At the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the strike was not a mistake.
He described it as a planned attack carried out on the first day of the conflict and said more than 175 students and teachers were killed.
Araghchi called it a war crime and a crime against humanity and said such an attack could not be accidental given the technology used.
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.
Don’t they have children of their own? pic.twitter.com/urVURioWb3— Iran Embassy SA (@IraninSA) March 28, 2026
However, early findings from a US military review suggest the strike may have been caused by a targeting error. Per reports, US forces were aiming at a nearby military site linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The school building was believed to be located on or near a former military facility, and outdated intelligence may have been used to set the strike coordinates.
Officials are still investigating how this happened and why checks failed. The US has not confirmed individual responsibility and has said the review is ongoing.
US President Donald Trump had earlier suggested that Iran could have been responsible for the strike, even though Iran does not have Tomahawk missiles. He later said he would accept the findings of the investigation.
The UN human rights chief Volker Türk said the strike caused deep shock and called for a prompt, transparent and independent investigation. Countries such as China and Cuba have also asked for an independent probe.
Families of the victims spoke at the UN, including a mother who lost two children and said no parent is ready to hear that their child will not return.
The strike took place when US and Israeli forces launched attacks on Iran on February 28, starting a wider conflict in the region.
Iran later carried out retaliatory strikes, and tensions have continued to rise across the Middle East. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian blamed both the US and Israel for the school strike, while Israel has denied any involvement.
The area around the Strait of Hormuz remains sensitive for global shipping. About one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through this route, and any rise in conflict increases risks for tankers and other vessels.
Shipping companies are watching the situation closely as it could affect vessel movement, insurance costs and overall trade flow.
References: Moneycontrol, TOI
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