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Pentagon faces scrutiny over Minab school strike transparency
Five former U.S. defense officials, including a retired senior military lawyer, have condemned the Pentagon's lack of disclosure regarding a February 28 missile strike on an Iranian primary school that killed 168 people, including 110 children. The officials say the silence is unprecedented compared to past incidents involving civilian casualties.
Delayed investigation raises questions
The Pentagon has only stated that the incident is under investigation, offering no further details two months after the strike in Minab. U.S. media reported in early March that military investigators suspected American forces were likely responsible for the unintentional hit, though no final conclusion has been reached.
When pressed by the BBC, a Pentagon spokesperson repeated that the matter remains under review, promising updates when available. The response contrasts sharply with past cases of civilian deaths during U.S. operations, where officials typically released more information within weeks.
Criticism from former officials
Lt. Col. Rachel VanLandingham, a retired U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General and former legal adviser at U.S. Central Command, called the administration's silence a departure from past standards. "Previous administrations demonstrated a commitment to the law of war," she said. "What's missing here is accountability and a pledge to prevent future tragedies."
"To not even acknowledge basic facts is unacceptable."
Wes Bryant, former Pentagon adviser on civilian harm mitigation
Bryant, who left the Pentagon last year amid staffing cuts to the civilian harm unit, said preliminary inquiries usually determine two key points: whether civilian harm occurred and whether U.S. forces were operating in the area. "If both criteria are met, an investigation is formally launched," he said. "The fact that one is underway suggests they already know the U.S. was involved."
Political fallout and conflicting statements
President Donald Trump initially blamed Iran for the strike without evidence. When shown video of a U.S. Tomahawk missile hitting a nearby Iranian military base, he claimed Iran possessed similar missiles-a statement unsupported by public evidence. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has only stated that the U.S. does not target civilians, declining to answer further questions.
Congressional Democrats have repeatedly sought answers, but Pentagon responses have been evasive. A letter sent to lawmakers on April 2 confirmed an independent investigator had been appointed but provided no substantive details. Republicans, including Senator John Kennedy, have called the strike a "terrible mistake," though most have declined to comment publicly.
Historical comparisons highlight opacity
The BBC reviewed three past incidents of civilian deaths during U.S. military operations, all of which saw more transparency within a month. Annie Shiel, a former State Department official now with the Center for Civilians in Conflict, noted that past administrations often initially denied involvement, only to retract those claims after independent reporting.
Charles Blaha, a former State Department director, attributed the current silence to the administration's reluctance to contradict the president's initial claims. "There's a rejection of any negative news about this war as unpatriotic," he said.
Access and accountability challenges
Iran has not granted independent investigators access to the Minab site, complicating efforts to verify details. The UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran said it requested access on March 17 but was denied. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has not disclosed whether the Iranian military base adjacent to the school was a pre-planned target, despite discussing other targets publicly.
Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, called the Pentagon's closed-door briefings on the strike "pathetic and completely inadequate," noting no admission of U.S. responsibility has been made.
