Was the air strike on an Iranian school a war crime?

伊朗学校遭受空袭是否构成战争罪?

The Global Story

2026-03-16

28 分钟
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WARNING: This episode contains some graphic descriptions of violence. Since an air strike on a school in Iran two weeks ago, the Pentagon has faced mounting questions over the possible involvement of the US military. Iranian officials say the strike killed 168 people, including about 110 children. US media have reported that military investigators believe American forces were likely responsible for hitting the school unintentionally – but that they have not reached a final conclusion. Today, Merlyn Thomas from BBC Verify explains what we know so far about the strike. And we speak to Oona Hathaway, a professor of international law at Yale University who previously worked at the US Department of Defence, about the potential legal consequences. Producers: Sam Chantarasak and Aron Keller Executive producer: James Shield Mix: Travis Evans Studio manager: Mike Regaard Senior news editor: China Collins Photo: People attend the funeral of the victims following a reported strike on a school in Minab, Iran, March 3, 2026. Credit: Amirhossein Khorgooei/ISNA/WANA via Reuters.
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  • A warning before we begin today's show, this episode contains some graphic descriptions of violence.

  • On Saturday, February 28th, in the opening hours of the U.S.-Israel war in Iran,

  • a missile slammed into an elementary school in the city of Minab in southeastern Iran.

  • Saturday is the start of the Iranian work week,

  • meaning school was likely underway when the blast tore through the building.

  • Iranian officials say up to 168 people were killed,

  • most of them children between the ages of 7 and 12.

  • While the U.S.

  • president initially said he thought Iran did it, last week there were reports that U.S.

  • military investigators believe American forces were likely responsible,

  • but that they haven't reached a final conclusion.

  • From the BBC, I'm Tristan Redmond in Paris.

  • And I'm Asma Khalid in Washington, D.C.

  • And today on The Global Story, how did this strike on a school happen?

  • And what questions does this raise about how the U.S.

  • military is waging this war?

  • Coming up.

  • We'll be speaking to an international law expert who's also advised the U.S.

  • government in the past.

  • First, though, we want to understand how this all happened.