Top Democrat Questions Pentagon Silence on Iranian School Massacre

Smith, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, characterized the administration's posture as an exercise in stalling. During the hearing, he pressed Cooper to acknowledge the error, arguing that past military mistakes were typically addressed with greater transparency. Cooper maintained that the U.S. does not deliberately target civilians, justifying the lack of a definitive statement by noting that the school was located near an active Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps cruise missile base.

Smith rejected this defense, explicitly stating he did not trust the Pentagon’s explanation. He attributed the lack of clarity to the leadership style of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of showing a callous disregard for established rules of engagement and the protection of civilian life. The National Iranian American Council praised the questioning, reiterating that the tragedy cannot be ignored. Hegseth’s tenure has been marked by his vocal dismissal of engagement rules and his past efforts to secure presidential pardons for service members convicted of killing civilians.