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Senate Democrats seek clarity on Minab school attack
Nearly all Democratic senators have pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for answers after a missile strike on a primary school in Minab, Iran, killed 168 people, including approximately 110 children, according to Iranian authorities.
US role under scrutiny
American media reports indicate that US military investigators suspect American forces likely carried out the strike unintentionally during the joint US-Israeli operation. However, no final determination has been made. The Pentagon stated it would respond directly to the senators, as is standard for congressional inquiries.
When questioned by the BBC last week, Hegseth confirmed the US did not target civilians and is conducting an investigation into the incident.
Letter raises critical questions
The senators' letter, signed by all but one Democrat, demands specifics about the strike, beginning with whether the US was responsible. It also probes potential flaws in target analysis that may have led to the school being hit.
The letter references Hegseth's recent statement that there would be no "stupid rules of engagement" in the conflict and asks whether the Defense Department adhered to protocols designed to prevent war crimes.
"This incident was a horrific tragedy. We need to know exactly what happened," said Senator Gary Peters, a member of the Armed Services Committee, in an interview with BBC News. "We must gather the facts quickly so we can determine the appropriate next steps."
Political divisions emerge
The letter underscores the partisan divide over the conflict, with no Republicans signing it. The sole Democratic holdout, Senator John Fetterman, has supported the military action but agreed an investigation into the school strike is warranted.
Preliminary findings and expert analysis
According to CBS News and other US outlets, a preliminary assessment by American officials suggests the US was likely responsible for the strike but did not intentionally target the school. The error may have stemmed from outdated intelligence that misidentified the area as a military site.
President Donald Trump, when pressed on the issue, stated he lacked sufficient information but would accept the findings of the ongoing military investigation.
Video analysis by experts revealed that a Tomahawk missile-a type exclusive to US forces in the region-struck an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) base adjacent to the school. A video released by Iran's Mehr news agency, verified by BBC Verify, showed the missile moments before impact. The presence of the Tomahawk and evidence of multiple strikes strongly suggest US involvement, experts said.
Broader impact of the conflict
Since the US-Israeli operation began on February 28, satellite imagery and verified videos show extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and historic landmarks, alongside rising civilian casualties. Iran has accused both the US and Israel of responsibility for the attacks.
Israel has denied involvement in the Minab strike, with two officials telling the Washington Post that the Israeli military was not consulted on targeting in the area.
In response, Iran has launched attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf, targeting not only military sites but also civilian infrastructure and energy facilities.
Expert commentary
General David Petraeus, former CIA director and commander of US Central Command, told the BBC that the US was likely responsible, citing the exclusive use of Tomahawk missiles in the conflict. However, he noted he had not reviewed the specific evidence under investigation.
"It appears there may have been reliance on outdated intelligence, as this building was part of a larger Iranian naval compound years ago," Petraeus added.
