WarInvestigation – US Senators Demand Answers After Deadly Iran School Strike
WarInvestigation – More than forty United States senators have called on the Pentagon to provide detailed explanations following reports that a girls’ school in Iran was struck during early military operations carried out by the United States and Israel. The attack, which allegedly took place on February 28 in the southern Iranian city of Minab, is said to have killed at least 168 people, the majority of them children.
Lawmakers Seek Clarification From Pentagon
In a formal letter addressed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the group of lawmakers expressed deep concern about the reported airstrike on the school. They emphasized that the building was believed to be an elementary school for girls and that most of the victims were children between seven and twelve years old.
The letter was organized by Senators Chris Van Hollen, Tim Kaine, Elizabeth Warren, and Brian Schatz. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and more than forty additional lawmakers also signed the appeal.
According to the senators, the strike occurred during the opening phase of a broader military campaign against Iran. They noted that the school was located in Minab and appeared to have been used for educational purposes for several years prior to the incident.
Concerns Over Legal Authority and Conduct of War
The lawmakers also questioned the legal foundation for the military campaign itself. In the letter, they stated that the ongoing conflict with Iran had not received authorization from the US Congress, describing it as a conflict initiated without legislative approval.
Despite their objections to the broader military action, the senators stressed that all operations must still comply with international humanitarian law. They reminded the Pentagon that both the United States and Israel are obligated to follow established rules governing armed conflict, particularly when civilian lives may be at risk.
The senators urged the Department of Defense to begin a thorough and transparent investigation into the reported strike. They said the findings should be made public and should include any measures taken to ensure accountability if wrongdoing is confirmed.
Details of the Minab School Strike
The letter described the reported attack in Minab as a devastating civilian tragedy. According to available information, many of the victims were young girls attending classes at the time the building was hit.
Lawmakers noted that neither the United States nor Israel had publicly confirmed responsibility for the strike. However, they referenced comments made by Defense Secretary Hegseth on March 4, when he acknowledged that the incident was under review. At the time, he said only that the matter was being investigated but did not provide a timeline for when the review might be completed.
Reports cited by the senators suggested the school may have been struck during air operations targeting a nearby Iranian naval facility. Satellite imagery reportedly shows that the school building stood separate from the military installation and had been functioning as an educational institution since at least 2016.
Wider Concerns About Civilian Harm
Beyond the Minab incident, the lawmakers raised broader concerns about civilian casualties during the ongoing conflict. They referenced multiple reports indicating that airstrikes had damaged hospitals, cultural heritage sites, and other essential civilian infrastructure across Iran.
The letter also mentioned that explosive weapons had reportedly been used in heavily populated areas, including the capital city of Tehran, which is home to roughly nine million residents.
Citing figures from the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, the senators said that as of March 10 the war had resulted in more than 1,245 civilian deaths and over 12,000 injuries.
Questions About Artificial Intelligence in Targeting
Another issue highlighted in the letter involved the possible use of artificial intelligence systems in selecting or prioritizing military targets. The senators asked the Pentagon to clarify whether such tools had played any role in identifying locations for airstrikes in Iran.
They requested details on what safeguards were in place to verify targets generated or recommended by AI systems, as well as the processes used to reduce the risk of civilian casualties.
Rhetoric and Rules of Engagement
The lawmakers also expressed concern about recent remarks made by the defense secretary regarding operational rules. On March 3, Hegseth reportedly stated that the military campaign, known as Operation Epic Fury, would proceed without what he described as restrictive rules of engagement.
The following day, he said US military actions in Iran would deliver “death and destruction from the sky all day long.”
According to the senators, such statements could create confusion about the United States’ commitment to international humanitarian law and increase the potential danger faced by civilians in conflict zones.
They concluded their letter by urging the Pentagon to provide clear answers regarding the Minab strike, including the intended target, the intelligence used to identify it, and the measures taken to prevent harm to civilians.