A preliminary investigation by the Department of War has concluded that a US missile struck a school in Iran in the opening salvo of the war. President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran acquired an American missile and fired it at an Iranian school. 

According to military sources and officials speaking with The New York Times, a military inquiry into the strikes on the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school found the US was responsible for the attack. The sources explained that Central Command selected the school as a target based on outdated intelligence from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).

Tehran reports that multiple strikes occurred, and at least 175 people were killed. Most of the victims were children aged 7 to 12. 

The children were in school because the strikes occurred during the opening rounds of US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Tehran was engaged in the diplomatic process with Washington when the US and Israel launched the surprise attack. The unprovoked strikes ignited a war that is consuming the Middle East. 

President Trump has suggested that Tehran was behind the attack on the school. “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,” he said Saturday. 

He doubled down on the claim Tuesday. “The Tomahawk, which is one of the most powerful weapons around is … sold and used by other countries.” He added, “And whether it’s Iran, (which) also has some Tomahawks. They wish they had more. But whether it’s Iran or somebody else, the fact that a Tomahawk — a Tomahawk is very generic.”