Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut on Sunday called the deadly strike on an Iranian girls' school "unforgivable," as multiple outlets report that the United States launched the attack.
Murphy told CNN host Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" that it is "likely" the U.S. carried out the attack. Analyses conducted by The New York Times and CNN indicate it was a U.S. strike on the school, while two U.S. officials told Reuters that military investigators believe that to be the case.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society said Friday that the Feb. 28 strike killed at least 165 individuals, including a number of children, on the first day of U.S.-Israeli operations in Iran.
What the Left Is Saying
Murphy, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed strong criticism of the strike. "I think it's unforgivable under any circumstances," he said, adding that "the fact that this was one of our first targeting decisions, that this mistake was made on the first day of war, I think speaks to the incompetence of our leadership at the Department of Defense."
When asked by Tapper whether the strike constitutes a "war crime," Murphy replied, "If it's a mistake, it's very different than an intentional strike." He noted that "there are undoubtedly mistakes that are made in war" and said he trusts that this was a mistake.
The Connecticut Democrat's comments represent one of the most direct criticisms from within his own party of the U.S. military operation in Iran since it began last week.
What the Right Is Saying
The White House and Pentagon have defended the U.S. response while acknowledging an investigation into the incident.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday that the Pentagon is investigating the incident and stated that the U.S. "does not target civilians."
President Trump, speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Friday, accused Iran of targeting the school. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, standing next to the president, said his department is "certainly investigating" but claimed that "the only side that targets civilians is Iran."
The Trump administration has maintained that the U.S. operation in Iran targets legitimate military and terrorist infrastructure, not civilian sites.
What the Numbers Show
According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the Feb. 28 strike on the school killed at least 165 individuals, including a number of children.
In total, U.S.-Israeli strikes have hit nearly 9,700 civilian units as of Sunday morning, including over 7,900 residential units and over 1,600 commercial units.
The IRCS also reported that strikes have hit "several medical and educational facilities" since operations began.
Analyses from The New York Times and CNN indicate the school strike was carried out by the U.S., while two U.S. officials speaking to Reuters said military investigators believe this to be the case.
The Bottom Line
The strike on the Iranian girls school has become a focal point of scrutiny as Congress and the public seek answers about civilian casualties in the first days of U.S. operations in Iran. The Pentagon's investigation is ongoing, and findings could influence future targeting procedures and congressional oversight of the military campaign. Murphy's public criticism underscores growing Democratic concern about the conduct of operations, while the White House has stuck by its position that the U.S. does not intentionally target civilians. The IRCS data on civilian infrastructure damage will likely feature prominently in any future congressional hearings on the Iran operation.