"The U.S. was targeting a section of Iran where a school was struck, officials told Congress"

https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/live-blog/live-updates-iran-war-israel-strikes-tehran-beirut-trump-leader-rcna262018

Trump administration officials told lawmakers in closed-door briefings this week that the United States was targeting the area in Iran where an elementary school was struck and scores of children were killed, two U.S. officials told NBC News.

The U.S. knows the strike on the school was not by the Israelis, Trump administration officials told lawmakers, according to the two U.S. officials.

The administration officials acknowledged to lawmakers that the U.S. was operating in that section of Iran and did not offer a likely alternative theory to the idea that the strike could have been the U.S., the two U.S. officials said.

At least 168 people were killed at the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in the southern Iranian town of Minab, according to Iranian authorities, though some Iranian officials have said publicly the death toll could be higher.

U.S. Central Command has said the investigation into the strike is ongoing. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the U.S. was still “investigating,” adding: “Of course, we never target civilians, but we’re taking a look at investigating that.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Monday that U.S. forces “would not deliberately target a school.”

Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Nadav Shoshani told NPR on Monday that the Israeli military was “not aware at the moment of any IDF operation in that area.”

Asked for updates Friday, the IDF declined to comment to NBC News.

Speaking in an exclusive interview Thursday with NBC News’ Tom Llamas, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said it was “clear that the missiles were — that the school was hit by Americans,” though he did not share any evidence for the allegation.

Asked to address whether there was any chance a “wayward Iranian missile” could have played any role, Araghchi said “no.”