More than 156 people, including 120 children, were killed on February 28, 2026, when a U.S. missile strike destroyed a primary school for girls in Minab, Iran. Four months later, the Pentagon has yet to release the final phase of its internal investigation into the incident.
The February 28 Attack on Minab
The tragedy occurred during the early stages of the conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Teachers and students were observing the holy month of Ramadan, with children gathered in the prayer hall to recite the Quran before classes began.
As the conflict unfolded, the school principal ordered an immediate closure, urging parents to collect their children. However, the evacuation was interrupted by a missile strike. Survivors described a scene of sudden devastation. Amaine
, a teacher at the school, recounted that she was in the hallway when the building was hit. Something hit my head and my students’ heads—we were all displaced, she stated, noting that the upper floor collapsed into the lower levels, filling the remaining space with thick black smoke.
Iranian state media previously cited a figure of 168 children and 14 adults killed, according to Skai.gr.
Stalled Investigations and Congressional Pressure
The U.S. military completed the first two stages of its investigation within one week of the strike, focusing on target acquisition and intent. Evidence gathered during this period suggested that the military likely targeted the school in error, mistakenly identifying the location as a naval base for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Despite this, the third and most critical phase of the review—which involves a comprehensive assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)—has never been ordered.
In March, a separate independent investigation was launched involving interviews with military personnel involved in the operation. Sources told Skai.gr that the findings from these interviews were restricted to a small group of senior officers within the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). There was no detailed analysis. CENTCOM placed the investigation under strict restriction and prevented anyone from examining it, one source claimed.
This lack of transparency has prompted a formal push from U.S. lawmakers. A group of 25 Democratic senators, led by Senator Jack Reed and Kirsten Gillibrand, sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper demanding the release of the final report. The senators argue that the use of outdated satellite imagery, which failed to identify the building as a school, raises serious questions about U.S. targeting procedures and civilian protection protocols.
Official Stance and Unresolved Questions
The administration has provided little clarity regarding the status of the probe. Trump characterized the event as horrible, though he questioned whether the strike was indeed carried out by a U.S. missile.
For the survivors and families in Minab, the aftermath remains a daily reality. The school site, described by witnesses as walls that smell of death, grief, and the blood that was shed here, remains a focal point for the community. As of late July 2026, the Pentagon has not committed to a timeline for releasing the findings to Congress or the public, leaving the families of the 120 children killed without an official explanation for the strike.
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