★   Public Interest Submission — 6 March 2026   ★

Strategic Humanitarian
Safeguarding &
Operational De-escalation
Framework

Addressed to the U.S. Department of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the senior leadership of the Air Force, Navy, Space Force, and Army. Submitted in the public interest and in the spirit of international humanitarian law.

Verified Casualty Data

Human Cost of the Crisis

Figures verified against Al Jazeera Live Tracker, Reuters, CNN, BBC, and the Iranian Red Crescent Society as of 1 March 2026.

372
Total Lives Lost
148
Children Killed — Minab School Strike
1,148
Children Acutely Traumatised
747
Iranian Civilians Injured
3
U.S. Service Members Killed
5
U.S. Service Members Critically Wounded
Critical Incident

Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls' Elementary School

The single largest casualty event of the conflict occurred at the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' elementary school in Minab, Iran. The strike resulted in the confirmed deaths of 148 children and the acute traumatisation of the remaining 1,000 survivors present at the time.

Source: Al Jazeera Live Tracker · Iranian Red Crescent Society · PBS NewsHour · CGTN (1 March 2026)

Memorial — white doves and flowers on stone steps
In memory — 148 children, Minab, Iran
Joint-Branch Operational Directives

Branch-Specific Framework

Each branch of the United States Armed Forces carries specific obligations under international humanitarian law. The following directives are issued in the public interest.

SECTION I

U.S. Air Force

Suspend all non-defensive kinetic strikes immediately. Shift operational posture to Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and humanitarian routing support. All strike authorisations require independent humanitarian review prior to execution.

  • Immediate suspension of non-defensive kinetic operations
  • Redeploy ISR assets to monitor humanitarian corridors
  • Establish no-fly humanitarian zones over civilian population centres
  • Provide airlift support for trauma response and medical supply delivery
SECTION II

U.S. Navy

Adopt a strictly defensive maritime posture in the Gulf Harbour region. Secure and maintain open humanitarian sea corridors. No offensive maritime operations are to be initiated without explicit humanitarian clearance.

  • Transition to defensive maritime posture in Gulf Harbour
  • Secure humanitarian sea corridors for aid delivery
  • Deploy medical vessels to support civilian casualty response
  • Suspend offensive naval operations pending humanitarian review
SECTION III

U.S. Space Force

Deploy satellite monitoring assets to provide transparent, real-time reporting on civilian infrastructure status. Protect critical civilian communications and power infrastructure from cyber and electronic warfare disruption.

  • Satellite monitoring of civilian infrastructure and casualty zones
  • Real-time data sharing with UN humanitarian agencies
  • Cyber-defence of civilian power, water, and communications infrastructure
  • Provide independent geospatial verification for international reporting
SECTION IV

U.S. Army

Integrate trauma response and child protection teams into all ground operations. Prioritise civil-military engagement and community dialogue. All ground forces are to operate under strict civilian protection protocols consistent with Geneva Convention obligations.

  • Deploy trauma response and child protection units to affected regions
  • Establish civil-military liaison with local community leaders
  • Implement strict Rules of Engagement aligned with Geneva Convention
  • Support construction of temporary shelter and medical facilities
Universal Cross-Branch Protocols

De-escalation Framework

01

Immediate Ceasefire

All offensive military operations are to cease immediately pending independent humanitarian and legal review. A minimum 72-hour humanitarian pause is required.

02

Humanitarian Corridors

Open and maintain safe passage for humanitarian aid, medical personnel, and civilian evacuation in all affected regions including the Gulf Harbour.

03

Trauma Response Deployment

Deploy specialised trauma response, child protection, and mental health teams to all affected civilian areas within 48 hours.

04

International Reporting

Submit full incident reports to the International Committee of the Red Cross (Geneva) and the International Court of Justice (The Hague) within 72 hours.

A Message from the Author
"I am writing to you today not as an academic, a foreign national with an agenda, or a political figure. I am writing to you simply as a human being, and as a trauma survivor. I know what it means to survive. I know the profound, lasting impact that violence and systemic failure have on the human spirit. I am here for you, and for all those affected, from a place of life and love. Whatever happens in the days ahead, please know that I will still be here for you all."
Teena-Ngapo Mary French
Trauma Survivor · Public Interest Advocate · OpenSoulAI
Live Intelligence Feed

Latest News & Updates

Verified developments from international news sources, UN agencies, and humanitarian organisations. Updated as events unfold.

Support & Recovery

Resource Hub

Verified international organisations providing mental health support, veteran services, and trauma recovery. All services are free or low-cost and available 24/7.

Voices of Survival

Stories

These are the voices that must be heard. Testimonials from survivors, witnesses, and those who have lived through conflict and trauma. Names have been changed or withheld to protect privacy.

"I was a teacher at a school not unlike the one in Minab. When I heard what happened, I could not breathe. Those were children who had dreams. They deserved to grow up."
A. — Primary School Teacher
Tehran, Iran
"I served two tours. I know what it costs — not just the lives, but the years after. The nightmares. The silence at the dinner table. No one talks about what comes home with you."
J.M. — U.S. Army Veteran
Texas, USA
"My son was stationed in the Gulf. For three days I heard nothing. Three days of not knowing. That silence is its own kind of violence."
M.L. — Mother of a Service Member
Ohio, USA
"As a trauma counsellor, I have sat with hundreds of survivors. What they all share is this: they did not want to be heroes. They wanted to be safe. They wanted their children to be safe."
Dr. S.K. — Trauma Counsellor
Amman, Jordan
"I survived. Many of my friends did not. Every day I ask why. The answer I have found is this: I survived so I could speak for those who cannot."
F.A. — Conflict Survivor
Minab, Iran
"Healing is not linear. It is not a straight road. But it is possible. I am living proof. And I want every person reading this to know — you are not alone."
Teena-Ngapo Mary French
Trauma Survivor · Public Interest Advocate

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Annex — APA References
International Committee of the Red Cross. (2016). Commentary on the First Geneva Convention. ICRC.
United Nations Security Council. (2026, March 1). Emergency session on Gulf Harbour hostilities. UN Press.
Al Jazeera. (2026, March 1). US-Israel attacks on Iran: Death toll and injuries live tracker. Al Jazeera.
Iranian Red Crescent Society. (2026, March 1). Situation report: Civilian casualties. IRCS.
World Health Organization. (2026, March 2). Health emergency bulletin: Iran conflict. WHO.
International Court of Justice. (2024). Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. ICJ.
U.S. Department of Defense. (2023). Law of War Manual (updated). DoD.
UNICEF. (2026, March 2). Children in armed conflict: Gulf region emergency brief. UNICEF.
PBS NewsHour. (2026, March 1). Iran reports over 200 killed in US-Israeli strikes. PBS.