Washington, March 14 (NationPress) Following alarming reports, Democratic lawmakers in the US Congress are demanding answers from the Pentagon regarding a US airstrike during Operation Epic Fury that allegedly struck a girls’ elementary school in Iran. This tragic incident has resulted in the death of at least 175 civilians, including numerous children, leading to urgent calls for a comprehensive investigation, accountability measures, and enhanced safeguards to avoid civilian casualties.

Members of both the House and Senate indicated that this incident, which reportedly took place on February 28 near Minab, could signify one of the most devastating civilian casualty events associated with recent US military actions in the Middle East.

Representative Gabe Vasquez from New Mexico has reached out to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, requesting “thorough details on the measures the US is implementing to prevent and address civilian harm,” including an evaluation of the casualties resulting from the airstrike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school.

“Civilians and their infrastructure should never be subjected to attacks and must always be safeguarded and respected by all involved parties,” Vasquez along with his colleagues stated. “We are seeking comprehensive information regarding civilian protection protocols during Operation Epic Fury and the military's efforts to alleviate and address civilian harm.”

In a separate initiative, Congressman Jason Crow, alongside over 120 Democratic representatives, has also called on the Pentagon to clarify details concerning the strike and the broader civilian casualties reported amidst the ongoing conflict in Iran.

The lawmakers expressed deep concern regarding what appears to be the most lethal attack on civilians to date: the strike on a girls’ elementary school, which claimed the lives of at least 175 civilians, many of whom were children, and left approximately 100 children and staff injured.

In their letter, they have requested detailed insights into the targeting protocols, assessments regarding the risk to civilians, and the actions taken by the military to avert or respond to civilian casualties during Operation Epic Fury.

They also inquired whether artificial intelligence tools were utilized in target selection and if such systems underwent human verification before the authorization of strikes.

The lawmakers have further encouraged the Pentagon to publicly disclose the results of the ongoing investigation into the school strike and other reported incidents of civilian casualties during the operation.

A group of senators, including Mark Warner, Brian Schatz, Patty Murray, Jeanne Shaheen, Jack Reed, and Chris Coons, condemned the reported strike.

“We are appalled by the recent reports concerning the strike on an Iranian elementary school near Minab on February 28, which led to the deaths of at least 175 individuals, primarily school children,” the senators stated.

“The loss of young lives is horrifying and unacceptable in any context,” they emphasized, calling for a thorough and unbiased investigation into the incident.

This congressional pressure coincides with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's announcement that the US military has initiated a formal investigation into the strike.

“The command investigation will take the necessary time to thoroughly address all aspects surrounding this incident,” Hegseth remarked. He assured that the military would scrutinize the circumstances surrounding the attack and share the findings after the inquiry concludes.

Hegseth also reiterated that the United States does not deliberately target civilians, stating to reporters: “We will investigate, uncover the truth, and share it when we have it.”

This controversy arises amidst growing scrutiny over civilian casualties linked to the Trump administration’s military actions in Iran and the conduct of Operation Epic Fury.

As outlined in the lawmakers' letters, it has been reported that over 1,000 civilians have lost their lives during this campaign, with rising concerns about strikes impacting schools, hospitals, public gathering spaces, and other civilian infrastructures.