The Pentagon is facing mounting pressure after America’s top commander in the Iran campaign admitted the military is not investigating reports that US strikes destroyed schools and hospitals across the country.

At a tense Senate hearing, Admiral Brad Cooper insisted there was “no indication” US forces had hit civilian sites, despite detailed reporting, satellite imagery and mounting casualty claims from rights groups and Iranian officials.

Congressional Clash Exposes Deepening Questions

The confrontation erupted during a Senate Armed Forces Committee hearing when Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand pressed Cooper over reports that 22 schools and 17 healthcare facilities had been damaged or destroyed during the bombing campaign.

Cooper flatly denied the military could corroborate the claims. Asked directly whether the Pentagon had investigated the allegations, he answered: “We have not.”

Gillibrand fired back immediately, accusing the military of ignoring publicly available evidence while continuing to insist civilian protections remained a priority.

School Strike Still Hanging Over Pentagon

The exchange comes just two months after US officials acknowledged an internal investigation into a strike on a girls’ school in Minab that reportedly killed around 150 children.

Iran’s ambassador to the UN blamed American forces for the attack. Analysts examining satellite images and video footage said the site appeared to have been struck by precision-guided munitions inside an active US-Israeli operations zone.

Despite that investigation remaining unresolved, Cooper told lawmakers the military had identified only one potential civilian casualty incident across more than 13,600 airstrikes.

Civilian Death Toll Disputed

Human Rights Activists News Agency says more than 1,700 civilians have been killed since the campaign began. The Iranian Red Crescent claims nearly 800 schools and more than 300 healthcare facilities have been damaged or destroyed.

The Pentagon rejects those figures. Cooper insisted US forces had “gone above and beyond” to warn civilians before strikes, claiming he had “personally” warned Iranians.

But critics say the safeguards meant to prevent civilian deaths have already been dismantled.

Oversight Office Hollowed Out

Former Pentagon officials say the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response office — created to reduce civilian casualties — was effectively gutted before the Iran operation intensified.

Retired Master Sgt Wes Bryant warned the loss of specialist oversight may have stripped away the final safeguards designed to stop catastrophic targeting failures.

When Senator Mark Kelly asked whether staffing would be restored if targeting errors were uncovered, Cooper refused to commit.

“We’ll just see what the investigation says,” he replied.

Defense Department not investigating reports of US bombing schools and hospitals in Iran, military chief says | The Independent

Just as well. Nobody would believe their report anyway.

3 minutes ago, bannork said:

The Pentagon is facing mounting pressure after America’s top commander in the Iran campaign admitted the military is not investigating reports that US strikes destroyed schools and hospitals across the country.

At a tense Senate hearing, Admiral Brad Cooper insisted there was “no indication” US forces had hit civilian sites, despite detailed reporting, satellite imagery and mounting casualty claims from rights groups and Iranian officials.

American war criminals doing their dirty deeds in public and with the approval of a good part of average Americans.

I would wish us to have some Nuremberg trials 2.0 coming up, which would lead undoubtedly to the execution by firing squad of a rather large percentage of the American political class in Washington. Followed by reparations to all countries where those war crimes have taken place over the last 80 years.

Alternatively, each of those nation states wronged could get one of the 50 states of the USA. There would be nothing left of this cancer on our planet afterwards.

3 minutes ago, jts-khorat said:

I would wish us to have some Nuremberg trials 2.0 coming up, which would lead undoubtedly to the execution by firing squad of a rather large percentage of the American political class in Washington. Followed by reparations to all countries where those war crimes have taken place over the last 80 years.

Are you not from the continent where some of the most horrific war crimes in the history of the world took place? If so, STUF.

3 minutes ago, TedG said:

Are you not from the continent where some of the most horrific war crimes in the history of the world took place? If so, STUF.

We had our Nuremberg trials though, lorded over by self-proclaimed world policeman, the USA.

How deep you have fallen: see what you did to yourself, you are in sum by now pretty close to where the Nazis were.

I would think the stench of moral rot makes breathing for you snooty Americans unbearable by now.

Just now, jts-khorat said:

We had our Nuremberg trials though, lorded over by self-proclaimed world policeman, the USA.

How deep you have fallen: see what you did to yourself, you are in sum by now pretty close to where the Nazis were.

I would think the stench of moral rot makes breathing for you snooty Americans unbearable by now.

You Germans didn't have it; you were a conquered nation. We forced it on you. Are not like the Nazis; you are nothing but a low-information European.

7 minutes ago, TedG said:

Are you not from the continent where some of the most horrific war crimes in the history of the world took place? If so, STUF.

Trying to shut everyone up today? Nice...

An inflammatory post and the replies have been removed.

13600 strikes.

1 confirmed civilian casualty.

Hardly credible is it?

An admission of guilt?

Remember the My Lai Massacre investigation and coverup during the Viet Nam War?

This is typical Yank justice No accountability