Democrats have asked Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to provide answers after it was reported that a missile strike against an Iranian school killed up to 168 people including 110 children.
US Assessment: Preliminary Assessment
The officials say that outdated information may have misidentified the school as a military base. Pentagon confirms it will respond directly to senators inquiries.
Hegseth stated that US do not attack civilians, and are actively investigating this incident. Former President Trump has claimed that Iran was responsible for the attack and said he did not have detailed information about the incident.
The Evidence Points To US Operation
The Tomahawk cruise missile is owned by the US and neither Israel or Iran possess it. The multiple strikes in the region suggest that this was a US operation.
Civilian Damages and Retaliation
Many civilian sites have suffered damage since the US-Israeli military operation started on 28th February. These include hospitals, historical landmarks and other civil buildings. Satellite images and verified videos confirm that the number of casualties is increasing. Iran responded by launching attacks against Israel and US-allied Gulf states, which targeted both military and civil sites.
Expert Opinion
David Petraeus – former CIA director and US Central Command commander – suggested the Americans are likely to be responsible.
He said that old intelligence could have misidentified the area of the school as an Iranian Naval compound.
