Several senior Democratic senators in the United States have called for a comprehensive investigation into the deadly bombing of a girls’ elementary school in southern Iran, urging the United States Department of Defense to provide clear answers about the incident that reportedly killed at least 170 people.
In a joint statement released late Sunday, six Democratic lawmakers said they were “horrified” by the strike on the school located in Minab. The attack reportedly took place during the opening phase of joint U.S.–Israeli military operations against Iran that began on February 28.
“The killing of school children is appalling and unacceptable under any circumstance,” the senators said, stressing that the situation must be thoroughly examined and that the American public deserves full transparency about what occurred.
Missile Footage Raises New Questions
Calls for an inquiry intensified after new video footage surfaced suggesting the school may have been hit by a Tomahawk cruise missile, a weapon system operated by the United States Armed Forces but not possessed by Israel or Iran. The revelation has fueled speculation about the possible origin of the strike and has made the Minab incident one of the most widely discussed cases of civilian casualties linked to the ongoing conflict.
Authorities in Tehran say the war has caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure across the country. According to Iranian officials, strikes have affected schools, hospitals, residential buildings, markets, and other public facilities, including a water desalination plant.
Iran’s Deputy Health Minister, Ali Jafarian, said the combined U.S. and Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,255 people nationwide since the start of hostilities, adding that the majority of victims were civilians.
“They were living in their homes or at their workplace,” Jafarian said during a televised interview.
Lawmakers Seek Accountability
The senators pressing for a review include Brian Schatz, Jeanne Shaheen, Jack Reed, and Elizabeth Warren, all of whom serve on key national security and foreign policy committees in the U.S. Senate.
They also referenced remarks made by Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Defense Secretary, who had previously indicated that military rules of engagement were relaxed during the conflict. According to the lawmakers, any policy decisions that may have contributed to civilian casualties must be closely examined.
“Secretary Hegseth needs to ensure the Department of Defense’s ongoing investigation into this strike is thorough and provide clear answers to the American public and Congress about how and why this tragedy unfolded,” the senators said.
Conflicting Claims Over Responsibility
Despite growing scrutiny and investigations by journalists and analysts suggesting that U.S. weapons may have been involved, Donald Trump has publicly blamed Iran for the bombing.
“In my opinion and based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran,” Trump said during remarks last week.
Hegseth, however, has not repeated the claim, stating only that the Pentagon’s investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
Rights Groups Call for Transparency
Human rights advocates say similar situations in past conflicts have sometimes involved initial denials of civilian casualties by the United States before later investigations revealed mistakes.
Annie Shiel, U.S. director at the Center for Civilians in Conflict, said the administration should prioritize uncovering the facts behind the Minab strike.
“The U.S. needs to stop focusing on denial and get to the truth about what happened and why through a thorough, transparent, independent investigation,” she said.
The Minab bombing has intensified international scrutiny of the ongoing conflict and renewed debates over civilian protection and accountability during military operations.
