A devastating strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, has left more than 165 schoolgirls aged seven to 12 dead along with teachers and staff. The incident occurred during US-led Operation Epic Fury, which involved coordinated strikes with Israel targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites. Satellite imagery, geolocated videos, and independent investigations suggest the strike may have been carried out by a US Tomahawk Land Attack Missile.

The tragedy has sparked global outrage and raised serious concerns about civilian casualties in modern warfare. US President Donald Trump has denied responsibility, claiming the attack may have been caused by inaccurate Iranian munitions. However, investigative reports and expert assessments indicate the US military was likely responsible.

The incident has also ignited debate over the growing use of artificial intelligence in warfare. Reports indicate that Anthropic’s Claude AI, integrated through Palantir’s Maven Smart System, helped analyse intelligence, identify targets, and prioritise strikes during the operation. Critics warn that reliance on AI in high-stakes military decisions could lead to deadly mistakes, especially when data is outdated or incomplete. The Minab school strike has become a tragic example raising urgent questions about the role of AI in modern battlefield decision-making.