Washington, March 12 (NationPress) Over 40 US senators have urgently requested information from the Pentagon regarding the bombing of a girls' school in Iran, which has reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 168 individuals, predominantly children, during the initial stages of the Trump administration's conflict with Iran.

In a letter addressed to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, the legislators expressed their serious concerns over the airstrikes on a girls' elementary school in Minab, Iran, that allegedly killed a significant number of civilians on February 28, coinciding with the commencement of US and Israeli military operations in the region.

The letter was spearheaded by Senators Chris Van Hollen, Tim Kaine, Elizabeth Warren, and Brian Schatz, with the support of Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and over 40 other lawmakers.

“It is important to clarify that this conflict with Iran is a war of choice without prior Congressional approval,” the senators emphasized. “Nevertheless, as these military actions progress, both the United States and Israel must adhere to US and international law, including the laws governing armed conflict.”

They called for an immediate investigation into the incident and the prompt release of the findings to the public.

“A thorough investigation must be conducted into the airstrikes on this school and any other US military operations that may have caused civilian casualties, with findings made public as soon as possible, along with any actions taken to ensure accountability,” the senators stated.

The lawmakers characterized the Minab incident as a significant civilian disaster.

“The consequences of this attack on the school are appalling. The majority of the deceased were girls aged between 7 and 12 years,” the letter noted, highlighting that neither the United States nor Israel has yet assumed responsibility for the bombing.

The letter reported that Hegseth acknowledged on March 4 that a review of the incident was underway, stating, “all I know, all I can say, is that we’re investigating that,” but offered no timeline for the investigation.

Additionally, the lawmakers referenced media reports indicating the school might have been struck during strikes targeting a nearby Iranian naval base. Satellite imagery confirmed that the building had been utilized as a school since at least 2016 and was situated away from the naval base.

In addition to the Minab bombing, the senators expressed broader concerns about civilian casualties amidst the ongoing conflict.

“Reports have emerged regarding airstrikes impacting multiple hospitals, cultural heritage sites, and other vital civilian infrastructure,” they wrote. “This is compounded by the deployment of explosive munitions in major Iranian cities and densely populated areas such as Tehran, which houses around 9 million residents.”

As of March 10, more than 1,245 civilians had reportedly lost their lives and over 12,000 were injured due to the conflict, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency based in the US.

The senators also expressed grave concerns regarding allegations that artificial intelligence tools may have played a role in identifying or prioritizing targets in Iran.

“These apprehensions are exacerbated by reports suggesting that artificial intelligence technologies were used to select and prioritize targets in Iran,” the letter emphasized.

The lawmakers requested clarification from the Pentagon on whether US forces were involved in the school bombing, the intended target of the strike, the analysis conducted to identify the building, and the measures taken to reduce civilian casualties.

They also inquired if AI tools were utilized in the planning or execution of the strikes, along with what safeguards were in place to validate AI-generated targets.

The senators raised alarms over statements made by the defence secretary regarding military operational guidelines.

On March 3, Hegseth remarked that Operation Epic Fury would not have “stupid rules of engagement.” The following day, he stated that US military actions in Iran would result in “death and destruction from the sky all day long.”

The senators cautioned that such rhetoric could jeopardize adherence to international humanitarian law and elevate risks to civilian populations.