BY OUR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
A FIRESTORM has erupted in Washington after a “catastrophic” US military blunder left 165 civilians dead—most of them children—following a missile strike on an Iranian elementary school.
Hardline US Representative Rashida Tlaib has led a chorus of international fury, branding the Trump administration “war criminals” and calling for the immediate impeachment of the President.
The tragedy unfolded at the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school on February 28. While the Pentagon initially remained tight-lipped, a preliminary inquiry has confirmed the building was leveled by a US Tomahawk missile.
The New York Times reports the strike was the result of a “targeting mistake” by U.S. Central Command.
Investigators believe officers used “outdated data” provided by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to set the coordinates.
Shockingly, sources briefed on the probe admitted the error has “not surprised” some officials, raising massive questions over the vetting process for high-stakes strikes.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Rep. Tlaib did not hold back, accusing the White House of a cover-up before the findings were made public.
”After lying about it, the Trump Administration confirmed that they bombed a school in Iran,” Tlaib wrote in a blistering post.
”Trump should be impeached. [Defense Secretary] Hegseth should be fired. And the Administration must be held accountable in international courts for their heinous war crimes.”
While the White House maintains the strike was an accident, the scale of the civilian loss—165 confirmed dead—has sparked a diplomatic nightmare.
Key questions now persist over:
Why outdated intelligence was used for a sensitive target.
Who failed to double-check the coordinates before the “fire” command was given.
How the administration originally messaged the strike to the public.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has yet to officially respond to the calls for his resignation, but the Pentagon insists the findings remain preliminary.
To give your readers context, you might include these points in a “sidebar” or concluding paragraph:
Heightened Tensions: The strike comes amid a period of extreme volatility between Washington and Tehran, with the US increasing its military footprint in the region.
The Hegseth Factor: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been a lightning rod for controversy since his appointment, often clashing with “career” military officials over rules of engagement.
The Tlaib-Trump Feud: Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a member of the “Squad,” has been one of the President’s most vocal critics, frequently accusing the administration of violating international law in its Middle East policy.
