Exclusive: US military hasn’t conducted standard review of intelligence tied to strike on school in Iran, sources say

Exclusive: US Military Intelligence Review Delayed for Iran School

Exclusive – According to three individuals with knowledge of the situation, a critical intelligence assessment that is typically conducted after significant military operations has been postponed for several months. This review is meant to clarify the circumstances surrounding a US strike that struck an educational facility in Iran. While military leadership has been aware of the incident, they have chosen not to initiate this essential evaluation process.

Exclusive: Initial Assessment Completed, But Deeper Analysis Missing

Within seven days of the strike occurring, commanders finished the preliminary two phases of what is known as a “battle damage assessment.” These initial stages addressed fundamental questions, such as confirming whether the munition actually struck its intended target and whether damage was inflicted. The sources confirmed that these findings established US responsibility for hitting the Shajareh Tayyiba school located in Minab.

However, a third standard phase was never initiated. This particular stage normally involves analysts, frequently from the Defense Intelligence Agency, examining all available satellite photographs alongside other intelligence materials. The purpose is to create a comprehensive understanding of the event and evaluate how the operation affected the larger mission objectives. According to sources, this comprehensive review is almost invariably carried out shortly after any notable strike, yet it had not commenced by early July.

Exclusive: Independent Probe and Information Restrictions

Separately, an independent investigation was introduced in March. During this process, military personnel connected to the strike were interviewed. However, sources indicated that Central Command has restricted access to the information gathered through these interviews. Only a small group of officers can view the details, even though this material could prove valuable to commanders currently conducting operations against Iran who wish to prevent similar errors.

“There was no detailed analysis conducted and CENTCOM locked down the investigation/blocked anyone from looking into it,” one of the sources stated.

A Defense Department representative confirmed to CNN that work continues on the matter. “We have nothing further to announce at this moment,” the official remarked.

Exclusive: Conflicting Views on Investigation Approach

The sources explained that the ongoing investigation aims to identify responsibility for the erroneous strike. The first source told CNN that initiating this probe should not have prevented the DIA from performing its more extensive third-phase review. “Both could have happened at the same time if they chose to,” the source noted. While an additional DIA assessment would not have definitively assigned blame, it could have served as supporting evidence.

Conversely, a US official informed CNN that the Pentagon’s internal investigation was designed to replace the conventional third phase assessment. The official explained that both processes could not occur simultaneously because the initial review clearly indicated the incident demanded a comprehensive examination by an independent entity outside CENTCOM and separate from agencies involved in the strike.

Once the independent investigation’s conclusions were delivered to CENTCOM in April, the subsequent postponement occurred because officials needed additional time to scrutinize the situation. The official highlighted that the failures leading to the accidental strike extended back years and encompassed multiple levels of potential errors.

Exclusive: Outdated Intelligence and Casualty Figures

Evidence began surfacing within a week of the strike, following the completion of the initial two review phases. This information suggested the US military had inadvertently targeted an elementary school, partly because intelligence regarding the location was outdated. The site was thought to be an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval base, according to sources.

Iranian state television reported that the attack resulted in the deaths of 168 children and 14 adults. By early July, the Pentagon still had not requested the Defense Intelligence Agency to perform the third and final stage of the battle damage assessment, a function the agency typically performs, sources said. DIA had been invited to join the initial, more superficial review.

The US military would have likely gained significant benefits from a more comprehensive analysis of the strike in several areas. This is especially true considering the apparent errors that led to using stale intelligence and wider gaps in the Pentagon’s targeting database that seem to have directly caused the mistake.

CNN previously reported that senior US military leaders i