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US military delayed intelligence review tied to Iran's Minab school strike, CNN reports

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The US military has delayed a standard intelligence review into a strike that hit a school in Iran during Operation Epic Fury.
  • Analysts were expected to conduct a holistic determination of the event, but this step was not ordered as of early July, despite initial assessments supporting it was a US strike.
  • CENTCOM has reportedly locked down information from an independent investigation, raising concerns about transparency and the potential impact on ongoing operations.

US military leadership has delayed ordering a comprehensive intelligence review into a strike that hit a school in Iran during the initial stages of Operation Epic Fury, CNN reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter. This review, typically conducted by analysts from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), aims to provide a holistic determination of events surrounding a strike, including satellite imagery and other intelligence sources.

There was no detailed analysis conducted, and CENTCOM locked down the investigation/blocked anyone from looking into it.

— officialCNN cited an official regarding CENTCOM's actions concerning the investigation.

While initial "battle damage assessments" within a week of the strike supported reports that it was a US strike, the subsequent standard investigation step was not ordered as of early July. This delay is unusual for a "noteworthy strike," according to one source. CENTCOM has reportedly "locked down" information from an independent investigation, granting access to only a select few officers, despite its potential use for commanders still launching strikes against Iran.

the investigation is ongoing

— Defense Department officialA Defense Department official commented on the status of the investigation to CNN.

An independent investigation was launched in March, with interviews conducted with service members involved. Findings were submitted to CENTCOM in April, but further examination of targeting causes, including "layers of mistakes extending back years," has continued to delay the process. Previous reports indicated that senior US military commanders ignored warnings about outdated intelligence regarding potential targets in Iran, a decision made for "expediency" that officials claim led directly to the accidental school strike.

we have nothing further to announce at this moment.

— Defense Department officialA Defense Department official provided a brief statement to CNN regarding the ongoing investigation.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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