Trump Denies Iran Responsible for School Strike After Pentagon Pushback
When questioned about reports of a girls’ school being hit during joint Israeli-U.S. strikes in Iran, President Trump dismissed the claims outright, asserting that Iran was responsible due to its military’s inaccuracy. In contrast, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that the matter was under investigation, stating that only Iran targets civilians. This divergence in statements led to Hegseth being sidelined, as preliminary assessments from anonymous U.S. officials and independent analysis by The New York Times suggest American forces may have carried out the strike. The incident occurred during the ongoing conflict, which has already resulted in significant casualties, including the deaths of at least 165 schoolgirls.