Targeting mistake led to US missile strike on Iranian school: report

WASHINGTON: A US military investigation has determined that a US Tomahawk missile struck an Iranian elementary school because of a targeting mistake, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.

The newspaper, citing US officials, said the investigation into the February 28 attack was ongoing but preliminary findings were that the United States was responsible.

CNN, citing unidentified sources briefed on the probe, also reported that the US military accidentally struck the school in the southern city of Minab.

The Times said the US military was bombing an adjacent Iranian base of which the school building was formerly a part and target coordinates were set using outdated data.

President Donald Trump initially suggested that Iran itself may have been responsible — despite Iran not having Tomahawk missiles.