CENTCOM Commander Faces Senate Scrutiny Over Minab School Strike in Iran
During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on May 16, 2026, CENTCOM Commander General Brad Cooper denied reports that U.S. airstrikes damaged 22 schools in Iran. The hearing focused on a specific incident in Minab where a strike reportedly killed 155 students. While Cooper cited an ongoing investigation, senators challenged the military's failure to review independent documentation of civilian infrastructure damage. The Iranian Red Crescent reports that over 700 schools have been affected by the current air campaign.