A US military investigation into a deadly strike on a girls’ school in Iran is nearing completion, US officials said.
A US military investigation into a deadly strike on a girls’ school in Iran is nearing completion, Reuters reported.
The strike took place on February 28, the opening day of the conflict, in Minab, southern Iran, where more than 175 children and teachers were killed.
US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper described the investigation as unusually “complex,” saying the school was located near what he identified as an active Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps cruise missile base.
Reuters has also reported that US officials involved in target planning may have relied on outdated intelligence when preparing the strike.
Democratic lawmakers pressed Cooper to publicly acknowledge likely US responsibility.
“It's really pretty clear what happened there. But 80 days on, we have not taken responsibility for that attack,” US Representative Adam Smith, top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, told Reuters.
An initial internal military review reportedly found US forces were likely responsible, though the Pentagon later elevated the inquiry and has not publicly confirmed any preliminary conclusions.
A woman walks through an installation symbolizing the Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab, which was destroyed in an airstrike, in a business district of Tehran, Iran, on April 22, 2026, as a ceasefire is extended. Photo: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via AFPHarm to Civilians
The incident has drawn broader scrutiny over civilian protection standards.
According to the UN human rights spokesperson, if an investigation finds the strike deliberately targeted civilians or was carried out indiscriminately, it could constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law and potentially amount to a war crime.
The case also comes amid broader concerns about Washington’s oversight of civilian harm.
A recent Pentagon inspector general report stated that the Defense Department’s Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response program has been significantly weakened under US President Donald Trump’s administration.
Staffing cuts, suspended oversight mechanisms, and the loss of key operational tools have raised concerns about the US military’s ability to meet its legal obligations on civilian casualty prevention and response.
A 2021 assessment by UK-based conflict monitor Airwars estimated that Washington's military campaigns over the last 20 years may have caused between 22,000 and 48,000 civilian deaths.
