Congressman grills US Admiral on Iranian girls school hit by US strike

The school itself is located on an active IRGC cruise missile base.I do not trust that answer.Can you at this moment acknowledge that that mistake was made and that we were responsible for it?It's something we didn't want to do and don't want to repeat.

Congressman, to reiterate, the United States does not deliberately target civilians.Got that part.Period.Full stop.Nor are the Iranian people our enemy.The IRGC is the adversary in this case.

I heard that in your opening statement, Admiral.I asked you a very specific question, and I'm curious what the answer is.

Sir, the investigation is ongoing.As soon as it is complete, I'm happy to be as transparent as possible.So that's a no.

We will not take responsibility for something we very obviously did.

Sir, it's a complex investigation.The school itself is located on an active IRGC cruise missile base.It's more complex than the average school.As soon as we're complete, I'm fully committed to transparency, given your important oversight role and the other members here.

Just so you know, and I have an enormous amount of respect for you and an enormous amount of respect for the Pentagon, I do not trust that answer.What we've seen out of the Secretary of Defense and his callous disregard for any sort of rules of engagement or protecting civilian life, they make us suspicious.