US Democratic senators called on the Pentagon to publicly release the findings of the investigation into an attack on a girls' school in Minab, Iran, that killed more than 175 children and teachers.
A group of senators led by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, including the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jack Reed, sent a letter to the US Department of Defense. The letter demanded the completion of the investigation, a briefing to Congress, and a plan to prevent similar mistakes.
The attack occurred on the first day of the war between the US and Iran. Iranian officials said more than 175 children and teachers were killed. The senators' letter stated that this incident is the largest case of civilian casualties since the US military bombed a shelter in Iraq in 1991, killing more than 400 civilians.
According to initial findings, the US military's internal investigation indicates that US forces were responsible for the attack. Officials who prepared the targeting packages are alleged to have used outdated intelligence.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, said in testimony in May that the investigation was complicated because the school was located on an active Iranian cruise missile base.
President Donald Trump, in a statement on June 24, cast doubt on the claim that the attack was carried out by the US. Trump said, "Somebody said it was our missile, maybe it wasn't our missile, but I haven't seen anything to make me believe it was ours. I don't think it was us."
In the letter, the senators demanded that Cooper and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth share a declassified version of the investigation findings with Congress and the American public, and also present a plan with corrective actions to prevent future mistakes. The letter stated, "The US military has a legal and moral obligation to take all possible measures to prevent civilian harm."
A Pentagon spokesperson said the investigation is ongoing and there is no update to announce at this time.
