{"id":2578804,"date":"2026-03-11T18:49:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T22:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-democrats-press-pentagon-on-iran-school-bombing\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T18:53:40","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T22:53:40","slug":"senate-democrats-press-pentagon-on-iran-school-bombing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-democrats-press-pentagon-on-iran-school-bombing\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate Democrats press Pentagon on Iran school bombing"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsenate-democrats-press-pentagon-on-iran-school-bombing%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2578804&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A brief overview of the report:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; On February 28, 2026, during Operation Epic fury, missiles struck an Iranian girls\u2019 elementary school in Minab, killing about 175 people, most of them children. The New York Times analysis suggested the blast may have been caused by a U.S. Tomahawk missile, adn NBC News cited sources indicating outdated intelligence may have contributed to the strike.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; On the matter of accountability, all members of the Senate Democratic Caucus signed a letter to Defense Secretary Pete hegseth demanding a swift examination and public release of the findings, along wiht measures to pursue accountability. Senators Bernie Sanders and Angus King also signed; John Fetterman did not. The letter highlighted civilian casualties, including a broader pattern of attacks on hospitals, cultural sites, and civilian infrastructure, and cited over 1,245 civilian deaths and more than 12,000 injuries as of March 10, 2026.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The letter criticized Hegseth\u2019s rhetoric surrounding the operation, referencing his remarks about \u201cno stupid rules of engagement.\u201d It urged timely disclosure of findings and accountability, with a deadline set for March 18, 2026.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Fetterman,who had publicly supported the Iran operation,did not sign the letter and later commented on X praising the strikes. Former President Donald Trump suggested the Tomahawk might have been obtained by Iran and stated he did not know about the preliminary findings.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The report underscores calls for transparency in U.S. military conduct and scrutiny of the decision-making behind civilian casualties.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Fetterman lone Senate Democrat not <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >signing letter seeking answers<\/a> on Iran school strike<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2529503\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Every member of the Senate Democratic Caucus signed a letter Wednesday to War Secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pete-hegseth\/\">Pete Hegseth<\/a> demanding answers on the deadly school bombing in Iran, with one exception &mdash; Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-fetterman\/\">John Fetterman<\/a> (D-PA).<\/p>\n<p>On Feb. 28, the first day of Operation Epic Fury, missiles destroyed an Iranian girls&rsquo; elementary school in Minab, killing around 175 people, most of whom were children. An analysis by the <em>New York Times<\/em> suggested the munition responsible for the blast was a U.S. Tomahawk missile, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/reports-president-trump-is-traveling-to-gettysburg-to-meet-with-gop-lawmakers\/\" title=\"...s: ... Is Traveling to Gettysburg to Meet with GOP Lawmakers\">sources familiar<\/a> with the internal U.S. military investigation&rsquo;s preliminary findings said outdated intelligence likely led to the attack, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/iran\/old-intelligence-likely-led-us-strike-iran-elementary-school-rcna262967\">NBC News<\/a> reported Wednesday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/4488708\/josh-hawley-bill-revoke-fda-approval-mifepristone\/\">Josh Hawley introduces bill to revoke FDA approval of mifepristone for abortions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4487940\/talking-filibuster-explained\/\">The &#8216;talking filibuster,&#8217; explained<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4488335\/john-thune-ballot-harvesting-crackdown-trump-ban-mail-voting-save-act\/\">Thune floats ballot harvesting ban as Trump hammers Senate on SAVE Act<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>As of Wednesday, neither the U.S. nor Israel has taken responsibility for the attack.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;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,&rdquo; the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vanhollen.senate.gov\/imo\/media\/doc\/letter_to_hegseth_on_minab_bombing_civcas_iran.pdf\">senators wrote<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Independent Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bernie-sanders\/\">Bernie Sanders <\/a>(I-VT) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/angus-king\/\">Angus King<\/a> (I-ME), who caucus with the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"249\">Democrats<\/a>, also signed the letter.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Massive civilian casualty incidents like the attack in Minab are not only detrimental to the Iranian people, who have already suffered so much at the hands of its own government, but they also undermine U.S. national security interests,&rdquo; the letter reads.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The senators also pointed to other examples of civilian casualties, citing attacks on multiple hospitals, cultural heritage sites, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-condemns-russian-aerial-assault-against-ukraine-putin-must-be-stopped\/\" title=\"Biden denounces Russian airstrikes on Ukraine, urges action against Putin\">critical civilian infrastructure<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As of March 10, 2026, there have been over 1,245 civilians killed and over 12,000 civilians injured in the war,&rdquo; they wrote.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/shadow-of-doubt-fbi-keenly-focused-on-elevated-risk-of-outside-influence-in-2024-election\/\" title=\"FBI intently focused on outside influence risk in 2024 election\">letter raised concern<\/a> over <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pete-hegseth\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1991\">Hegseth&rsquo;s rhetoric<\/a> surrounding the attacks, referencing his comments that Operation Epic Fury would have &ldquo;no stupid rules of engagement&rdquo; and that there would be &ldquo;death and destruction from the sky all day long.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fetterman, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4475515\/fetterman-praises-strikes-iran-trump-do-right\/\">who has supported the Iran operation<\/a>, did not sign the letter. &ldquo;President Trump has been willing to do what&rsquo;s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region,&rdquo; Fetterman<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenFettermanPA\/status\/2027674658091204808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2027674658091204808%7Ctwgr%5Ee2f0c44bb88ed326bed8b313aab780e229dfd159%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fsenate%2F4475515%2Ffetterman-praises-strikes-iran-trump-do-right%2F\"> said on X<\/a> following the Feb. 28 attack. &ldquo;God bless the United States, our great military, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Israel\/\">Israel<\/a>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>President<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\"> Donald Trump<\/a> suggested Monday that a Tomahawk missile <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4486018\/trump-iran-tomahawk-missile-girls-school-strike\/\">might have been obtained<\/a> and used by Iran.<\/p>\n<p>Asked on Wednesday about reports that the preliminary U.S. military investigation suggested an American munition hit the school, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/administration\/5779432-us-military-iran-school-strike\/\">Trump said<\/a>, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know about that.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4476538\/israel-us-iran-conflict-launched-trump-khamenei\/\">HOW THE IRAN CONFLICT WAS LAUNCHED: &lsquo;OPERATION EPIC FURY IS APPROVED. NO ABORTS. GOOD LUCK&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The senators demanded answers by March 18, 2026. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As Secretary of Defense, you set the tone for U.S. military conduct, and your recent comments send a clear message of disregard for the laws of war,&rdquo; they said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s a concise paraphrase:<\/p>\n<p>All Senate Democrats signed a letter to Defense Secretary Hegseth demanding a fast, public investigation into the Minab school bombing and other civilian casualties linked to Operation Epic Fury, with the sole exception of Sen. John Fetterman. The February 28 strike killed about 175 people, mostly children; NYT analysis pointed to a U.S. Tomahawk and preliminary findings suggesting outdated intelligence may have caused the attack. Sanders and King also signed. The letter calls for accountability and for findings to be released publicly by March 18, 2026, noting that civilian harm undermines both Iranian welfare and U.S. security. It cites other civilian casualties, including attacks on hospitals and cultural sites, and mentions that as of March 10, 2026, there were over 1,245 killed and over 12,000 injured. The lawmakers criticized Hegseth\u2019s rhetoric, referencing his \u201cno stupid rules of engagement\u201d stance and promises of \u201cdeath and destruction from the sky.\u201d Fetterman, who supported the operation, did not sign; he had praised the U.S., the military, and Israel after the attack. Trump suggested a Tomahawk might have been provided to Iran, though he later said he didn\u2019t know about that. The letter urged a response by March 18, 2026 and argued that the Defense Secretary sets the tone for U.S. military conduct.<\/p>\n<p>55-character headline (fits limit):<br \/>\nFetterman lone Dem not signing Iran school strike letter<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2578805,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26062349076111.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[3823,3761,33619],"class_list":["post-2578804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-iran","tag-pentagon","tag-senate-democrats"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26062349076111.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2578804"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578804\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2578810,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578804\/revisions\/2578810"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2578805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2578804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2578804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2578804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}