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NPR News: 03-11-2026 3PM EDT

March 11, 2026

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5 min read

A U.S. military investigation has concluded that the United States was responsible for a March 1st Tomahawk missile strike on a girls' school in Iran that killed an estimated 175 people, most of them children. A U.S. official not authorized to speak publicly confirmed to NPR that the Pentagon is now examining how the targeting error occurred, not whether the U.S. is responsible. The admission marks a significant shift from earlier official statements and opens the door to questions about how such a catastrophic mistake could happen in a conflict that has already brought shipping in the region to a virtual standstill.

Shipping Under Fire Around the Strait of Hormuz

The war that began in late February has escalated dramatically in the waters around the Strait of Hormuz. Three commercial ships were struck in the latest attacks, with one cargo vessel catching fire. Maritime monitoring agencies reported that a Thai-flagged ship was hit off the coast of Oman, and Iran has claimed responsibility. Two other vessels, flying Greek and Japanese flags, were also struck. In response, U.S. Central Command said it attacked sixteen Iranian mine-laying vessels in the area, though it remains unclear whether Iran has actually laid mines in the narrow waterway. Iran has warned that vessels need permission to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and hundreds of oil tankers are now idled because

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:23) **U.S. Military Investigation into Iran Girls' School Strike** - A military investigation suggests the U.S. was responsible for a Tomahawk missile strike on a girls' school in Iran, killing an estimated 175 people, mostly children.
  • 2 (00:52) **Three Commercial Ships Struck Near Strait of Hormuz** - Multiple vessels came under attack around the strategic waterway, setting one cargo ship on fire and bringing shipping to a virtual standstill.
  • 3 (01:53) **State Department Evacuation Update** - The State Department says it has directly helped more than 30,000 U.S. citizens evacuate.
  • 4 (02:00) **Georgia Runoff and Trump Endorsement Results** - Despite Trump's endorsement, Republican Clay Fuller faces a runoff in the race to succeed former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
  • 5 (02:30) **New Chinese Export Data Beats Expectations** - China's exports rose nearly 22% in January and February compared to the same period last year, driven by surging sales to Europe and Southeast Asia.
  • 6 (03:23) **Student Loan Borrowers May Get Wrong Information from Servicers** - A new GAO investigation finds that the Department of Education stopped two key oversight measures under President Trump, leading to potential inaccuracies.
  • 7 (04:22) **Inflation Holds Steady in February** - Consumer prices rose 2.4% compared to the year before, remaining at the same level as January, while the Fed's target is 2%.

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NPR News: 03-11-2026 3PM EDT

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