HIGHPOLITICAL
GOP Sen. Kennedy: 'We made a mistake' on Iran school strike — first Republican to acknowledge US culpability
·Washington DC, USA
'It was terrible. We made a mistake. Other countries do that sort of thing intentionally, like Russia. We would never do that intentionally.' Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) is the first Republican lawmaker to acknowledge that the US struck and killed 165+ civilians at a Minab girls' school. Trump had tried to blame Iran or Israel.
Republican US Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana became the first Republican lawmaker to publicly acknowledge that a US strike killed scores of civilians at a girls' school in Minab, Iran. 'It was terrible. We made a mistake,' Kennedy told reporters on Capitol Hill. 'Other countries do that sort of thing intentionally, like Russia. We would never do that intentionally. I think the Department is investigating it now, and I'm sorry. I'm just so sorry it happened.' Kennedy's statement is significant for several reasons: it breaks with Trump's attempt to deflect blame onto Iran or Israel, and it confirms that Republican senators are being briefed by the Pentagon that the US is responsible. Footage of the Minab strike indicated that an American-made Tomahawk cruise missile was used — the same weapon the US has deployed throughout the Iran campaign. The strike killed at least 165 people, mostly children, at the girls' school while targeting an adjacent IRGC compound. The Pentagon investigation — launched on Day 7 — has reportedly pointed to US culpability. Defense Secretary Hegseth said earlier on Day 11 that the US is taking the probe 'very, very seriously.' Kennedy's apology will intensify domestic and international pressure for a formal US acknowledgement.
Sources