March 11 (UPI) — A group of senators sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanding answers about the bombing of a school in Iran.
A school for girls in Minab, near a naval base, was hit Feb. 28 on the first day of airstrikes. Between 165 and 180 children, teachers and parents were killed.
“There must be 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,” the group of senators wrote in the letter to Hegseth.
Among those who signed it were Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Sens. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii.
Independents Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and and Angus King of Maine also signed. Sen John Fetterman, D-Pa., did not.
“The results of this school attack are horrific. The majority of those killed in the strikes were girls between the ages of 7 and 12 years old,” the letter said.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said, “I don’t know enough about it,” when asked about the preliminary investigation that said the U.S. was likely responsible. Previously, Trump accused Iran of bombing its own citizens.
A New York Times analysis published Monday reported that fragments of the device near the site of the attack show it was a U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missile, which is only used by the U.S. military.
“These actions, combined with your comments and the horrific reports of civilian casualties stemming from the war against Iran, suggest the administration has abandoned its duty to protect civilians,” the senators wrote.
“What we’re seeing is a failure to take the precautions necessary to prevent school kids from getting blown up,” Van Hollen told The Times. “And that’s the consequence of the attitude that Secretary Hegseth has promoted.”
On March 1, the United Nations called the attack on the school “a grave violation of humanitarian law.” The U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said “attacks against educational institutions endanger students and teachers and undermine the right to education.”
Education activist Malala Yousafzai said on X, “The killing of civilians, especially children, is unconscionable, and I condemn it unequivocally.”
“All states and parties must uphold their obligations under international law to protect civilians and safeguard schools,” she said. “Every child deserves to live and learn in peace.”
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