By Faris Tanyos
March 7, 2026 / 6:19 PM EST / CBS News
President Trump said Saturday, without citing evidence, that he believes a deadly strike on a girls’ primary school in southern Iran last weekend “was done by Iran.” Speaking aboard Air Force One after attending the dignified transfer of six U.S. soldiers killed in an Iranian strike in Kuwait on March 1, he said, “In my opinion, based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran…We think it was done by Iran, because they’re very inaccurate with their munitions, they have no accuracy whatsoever, it was done by Iran.”
When pressed, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon was “investigating,” adding, “the only side that targets civilians is Iran.”
Iranian state media and health officials reported the Feb. 28 blast — the first day of the war — killed dozens, including girls ages 7 to 12. Iranian officials blamed the U.S. and Israel. Two sources told CBS News Friday that Israel was not operating in the area; one Israeli source said the Israeli Air Force was not near the school. A person familiar with the inquiry told CBS News Friday that U.S. investigators believe the U.S. may have been responsible.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the investigation is ongoing and warned against drawing conclusions: “There are no conclusions at this time, and it is both irresponsible and false for anyone to claim otherwise. As we have said, unlike the terrorist Iranian regime, the United States does not target civilians.”
The blast occurred in Minab, in Hormozgan province. Footage showed black smoke rising from a damaged building with murals of crayons and children; CBS News geolocated the clip to a building identified by Iranian media as the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school. CBS News confirmed the building was near two sites controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iranian state media have said more than 170 people were killed.
Sara Cook, Camilla Schick and Olivia Gazis contributed to this report.