Trump faces questions over iran girls’ school strike, democratic senators ask if AI was used for targeting

Washington (The Uttam Hindu): An alleged US strike on a girls’ elementary school in Iran has become a major topic of debate in the US Congress. Democratic senators have sought answers from the Pentagon and demanded a full investigation into the incident. According to reports, at least 175 people were killed in the attack, including a large number of schoolgirls.

The strike reportedly took place on February 28 in Iran’s Minab city during “Operation Epic Fury.” The Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls Elementary School was allegedly targeted during the operation while many students were present. Representative Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico wrote a letter to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seeking detailed information about the incident. He asked what steps the US military is taking to prevent civilian harm and how it responds after such incidents.

In the letter, Vasquez and other senators wrote, “Under no circumstances should civilians or civilian infrastructure be targeted. All parties must ensure their protection and dignity at all times.” They demanded details about the precautions taken to protect civilians during Operation Epic Fury and called for a thorough investigation into the damage caused by the airstrike.

Meanwhile, more than 120 Democratic lawmakers led by Congressman Jason Crow have also asked the Pentagon to explain the attack and the civilian deaths reported during the ongoing conflict in Iran. Senators said they were particularly concerned about the reported strike on a girls’ primary school. The attack allegedly killed at least 175 people and left around 100 children and staff members injured.

Lawmakers also questioned the process used to select the target. They asked how the risk of civilian casualties was assessed and what measures the military had taken to prevent such incidents. They also raised the question of whether artificial intelligence (AI) technology was used in selecting the target. If AI was used, they asked whether the decision was reviewed and verified by human authorities before the strike was approved.

The senators have demanded that the findings of the investigation into the school strike and other civilian casualties be made public after the probe is completed.

Several senior US senators have also strongly condemned the incident, including Mark Warner, Brian Schatz, Patty Murray, Jeanne Shaheen, Jack Reed and Chris Coons.

The senators said, “The killing of schoolchildren under any circumstances is horrific and unacceptable. A full and impartial investigation must be conducted.”

Amid growing pressure, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said a formal investigation into the incident has been launched. The command-level probe will continue until all aspects of the incident are fully understood.

Hegseth added that investigators will examine the circumstances of the strike in detail and the results will be made public after the inquiry is completed. He also stated that the United States does not intentionally target civilians.

According to the letters sent by lawmakers, reports suggest that more than 1,000 civilians have been killed during the ongoing military campaign. Concerns have also been raised that some attacks have struck schools, hospitals, public places and other civilian infrastructure.