WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — The Department of Defense must quickly release the results of its investigation into whether the U.S. military bombed a girls’ elementary school in Iran that left at least 168 people dead, according to a letter sent Wednesday that was signed by nearly every Senate Democrat.
“To be clear, the war against Iran is a war of choice without Congressional authorization,” they wrote. “Nonetheless, as these military actions continue, the United States and Israel must abide by U.S. and international law, including the law of armed conflict.”
The letter from 46 senators to Secretary Pete Hegseth calls on Pentagon officials to conduct “a swift investigation into the strikes on this school and any other potential U.S. military actions causing civilian harm, and the findings must be released to the public as soon as possible, along with any measures to pursue accountability.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Defense said in a statement the “incident is under investigation.”
US responsibility probed
President Donald Trump said while leaving the White House Wednesday that he didn’t know anything about preliminary reports that the U.S. is responsible for the bombing. The New York Times reported earlier in the day that an “ongoing military investigation has determined that the United States is responsible for a deadly Tomahawk missile strike on an Iranian elementary school.”
The lawmakers’ letter requests the Pentagon answer a series of questions, including
- Whether the U.S. military conducted the strike on Feb. 28 on the girls’ elementary school.
- If it was a U.S. strike, what the military meant to bomb and what led to the school being hit instead.
- Whether the department is “complying with rules to prevent the commission of war crimes.”
- If the DOD created a “no-strike list” before bombing began in Iran and what other steps military officials have taken to reduce or prevent harm to civilians.
- Whether the military is using artificial intelligence tools in its operations in Iran.
- What steps the department took to comply with the laws of war.
Georgia Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock were among those who signed the letter. Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman was the sole Democrat not to sign.
