Weeks of limited response over a strike that killed scores in Minab have drawn criticism from former American officials demanding transparency and accountability.
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WASHINGTON — Five former U.S. officials, including a former senior military lawyer, have criticized the Pentagon for remaining largely silent over a deadly strike on a school in Iran earlier this year, calling the lack of transparency highly unusual.
A missile struck a primary school in Minab during the opening phase of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran on Feb. 28, killing 168 people, including around 110 children, according to Iranian officials.
More than two months later, the Pentagon has said only that the incident remains under investigation. U.S. media previously reported that military investigators believed American forces were likely responsible for hitting the school unintentionally, though no final conclusion had been announced.
Retired Lt. Col. Rachel VanLandingham, a former legal adviser at U.S. Central Command, said the current response sharply departs from previous administrations’ handling of civilian casualty incidents. She said past governments at least showed commitment to the laws of war and accountability.
Other former defense officials said while some investigations can take time, it is unusual that no basic details have been released after several weeks. One former official described the Pentagon’s silence as “problematic.”
The BBC reported it reviewed past U.S. military cases involving civilian deaths and found that significantly more information was made public within weeks, including acknowledgments of responsibility and apologies.
The Pentagon has repeatedly declined to answer questions on whether the nearby Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps base was among its planned targets during the attack.
U.S. President Donald Trump has previously blamed Iran for the strike without presenting evidence, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said only that civilian sites are never intentionally targeted and the matter is under review.
Congressional Democrats have also demanded answers, sending multiple letters to the Pentagon asking whether the U.S. carried out the strike. Responses so far have cited the ongoing investigation without addressing specific questions.
The incident has become a growing political and humanitarian issue, with critics saying the delay in disclosure risks damaging U.S. credibility on civilian protection and military accountability.
