UN Report Finds Deadly US Strikes on Iran School May Be War Crimes

A new United Nations report released in September 2026 concludes that two deadly US airstrikes on civilian sites in southern Iran, including an elementary school, may constitute war crimes. The strikes occurred on February 28, 2026, during the opening days of the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran. The report also highlights Iran’s own crackdown on protesters as potential crimes against humanity.

Details of the US Strikes on Civilian Targets

The UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission investigated two airstrikes that killed a combined total of at least 178 civilians, including over 120 children. The first strike hit the Shajareh Tayyiba elementary school in Minab, Iran, killing at least 156 people—120 of them children—and 26 teachers, according to Iranian officials. The second strike targeted a sports center and nearby residential area in Lamerd, resulting in 22 civilian deaths.

Investigators found that these attacks were indiscriminate and failed to distinguish between military and civilian targets, violating international humanitarian law. The report states there are “reasonable grounds to believe the United States committed the war crime of launching indiscriminate attacks resulting in loss of civilian life or injury.” Satellite imagery and eyewitness accounts showed no evidence that the school was being used for military purposes at the time.

US Response and Investigation Status

The Biden administration’s successor, President Donald Trump, who began his second term in 2025, formally withdrew the US from the UN Human Rights Council shortly after taking office, criticizing the body for alleged antisemitism. A US State Department official dismissed the UN report’s findings as lacking credibility. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense confirmed an internal investigation is ongoing but has not released conclusions.

Preliminary US military findings suggest the school was mistakenly targeted due to outdated intelligence. US Central Command reportedly relied on Defense Intelligence Agency data that did not reflect changes to the school’s location and surrounding IRGC naval base. Satellite images from 2016 showed the school was separated by a fence and had its own entrance, information apparently not fully accounted for during targeting.

Iran’s Crackdown on Protesters Also Under Scrutiny

The UN fact-finding mission also examined Iran’s brutal suppression of anti-government protests in late 2025 and early 2026. Thousands of protesters were killed, detained, tortured, or forcibly disappeared during the government’s crackdown. The report describes these actions as “gross violations amounting to crimes against humanity,” characterizing the repression as systematic and widespread.

Despite repeated requests, Iranian authorities refused to grant investigators unrestricted access or respond fully to inquiries. The report notes Iran only cooperated with about a quarter of information requests. Iranian officials have not publicly commented on the report, and efforts to reach Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment were unsuccessful.

International Legal Implications

The findings could have serious ramifications for international law and potential prosecutions. The UN Human Rights Council is expected to review the report, which could be used by bodies such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Although the US is not a member of the ICC, it maintains its own legal framework for prosecuting war crimes.

The investigators also requested information from Israeli government officials, whose responses were not forthcoming. The report’s authors emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability from all involved parties to uphold international law and protect civilians in conflict zones.

The UN report shines a stark light on the devastating human toll of the US-Iran conflict’s initial strikes and Iran’s internal repression. As investigations continue, questions remain about the accuracy of military intelligence and the measures taken to prevent civilian casualties during wartime operations.