Twenty-five Democratic senators, including Jack Reed and Kirsten Gillibrand, have demanded the Pentagon release a full, uncensored report regarding a February 28, 2026, strike on the Shajarat al-Tayyibah Girls’ Elementary School in Minab, Iran. The incident, which killed 175 people, remains shrouded in secrecy four months after the attack.
Congressional Demand for Transparency in the Minab Strike
The coalition of 25 Democratic senators, a group that also includes Angela Alsobrooks, formally requested that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper disclose the findings of their internal investigation. Despite reports that the official inquiry was completed in April, lawmakers state that the investigation report is being hidden from Congress and the public. The senators argue that the lack of transparency prevents adequate oversight of military operations and leaves the families of victims without answers.
The senators contend that withholding this information undermines the accountability mechanisms required when U.S. military actions result in significant civilian casualties.
Casualties and the Scope of the February 28 Incident
The strike targeted the Shajarat al-Tayyibah Girls’ Elementary School located in Minab, in Iran’s Hormozgan province. While initial reports from Iranian state media and subsequent international coverage confirm a high death toll, the specific circumstances surrounding the mission remain a point of contention and limited public knowledge.
- Casualty Count: 175 people, the majority of whom were children, were killed in the incident.
- Official Claims: Iranian state media reported that the operation was conducted by U.S. and Israeli forces.
Ethical and Legal Obligations in Military Operations
At the core of the senators’ letter is the argument that the U.S. military maintains a persistent responsibility to prevent civilian harm. The lawmakers emphasized that when such harm occurs, the government owes a clear explanation to the affected families and the American public. They framed this not merely as a matter of policy, but as a fundamental duty.
“Bir ABD saldırısı sivilleri öldürdüğünde, Bakanlık Kongre’ye, ABD halkına ve mağdurların ailelerine ne yaşandığına dair açık bir hesap verme ve gelecekteki başarısızlıkları önlemek için güvenilir bir plan borçludur.”
The senators explicitly stated that the SORUŞTURMA RAPORU KONGRE VE KAMUOYUNDAN GİZLENİYOR
—the investigation report is being hidden from Congress and the public—and insisted that the agency has a HESAP VERME VE SİVİLLERİ KORUMA SORUMLULUĞU VAR
—a responsibility for accountability and protecting civilians. Beyond the demand for disclosure, the letter calls for a concrete plan to ensure that such a tragedy is not repeated.
Unresolved Questions and Future Oversight
The senators' demand highlights a growing friction between legislative oversight and military secrecy regarding operations in the Middle East.
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