Forty-six United States Senators asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to speed up an investigation. They are worried about airstrikes that hit a girls' school in Iran. Many young students reportedly died in these attacks. The senators sent a strong letter on Wednesday. They also want to know about other US military actions. These actions might have accidentally hurt civilians.
The request for an inquiry comes from early findings. US military investigators think American forces may have caused the strike. This happened on February 28th. The letter needs a response by March 18th. It asks for clear information about US involvement. It also asks about ways to prevent civilian harm. The role of artificial intelligence in war is also a question.
The number of people killed is very sad. Most of the dead were girls. They were between seven and twelve years old. Iran's UN ambassador said US and Israeli strikes killed over 1,300 civilians. The senators wrote that the school attack results are terrible. They added that neither the US nor Israel has claimed responsibility.
Most Democrats in the Senate agree on this demand. However, Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania has a different view. He did not sign the letter. He supports the military's actions and Israel's safety. He said everyone agrees it was a tragedy and wants a full investigation. This idea is different from his colleagues' concerns. They want transparency and responsibility now.
This demand from many Democrats shows they want more openness. They want careful checks on possible civilian harm from US military actions. The Defense Department has not responded publicly yet. This is a big issue, especially with different political views. Republican lawmakers generally support the administration's approach to Iran. This situation might lead to more review of US military rules. It also brings up ethical questions about AI in war. The operation was called "Epic Fury." Now it means deep sadness and political focus.