While claiming that the subject of civilian casualties is his \u201cpassion\u201d before US lawmakers during a US Senate hearing on Thursday, the head of US Central Command was asked directly if he and his team had investigated a litany of reports about civilians being killed or maimed by US bombs in Iran. His answer? No.<\/p>\n
Commander Adm. Brad Cooper appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee for a hearing<\/a> on US Central Command (CENTCOM) and US Africa Command (AFRICOM) concerning the Trump administration\u2019s request<\/a> for $1.5 trillion in military spending authorization for 2027.<\/p>\n During the questioning, Cooper refuted reports that US-Israeli airstrikes have hit 22 schools in Iran and raised eyebrows for his answers regarding cuts to Pentagon<\/a> programs meant to mitigate harm to noncombatants.<\/p>\n Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) \u2013 who last month led the introduction<\/a> of a defeated war powers resolution aimed at stopping President Donald Trump\u2019s \u201creckless\u201d attack on Iran \u2013 pressed Cooper about US conduct in the war. She cited New York Times<\/em> reporting<\/a> that 22 schools and 17 healthcare facilities have been destroyed or damaged since Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched the illegal war of choice on February 28.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have regulations. We have the law of war. We have human rights obligations. We have our own targeting requirements to avoid civilian harm and death,\u201d Gillibrand said. \u201cHave you been implementing all the laws that are required under current law to minimize civilian death?\u201d<\/p>\n .@SenGillibrand<\/a> presses CENTCOM Commander Cooper on the bombing of schools and hospitals in Iran.<\/p>\n Cooper\u2019s response is woefully insufficient, denying that more than one such bombing took place, despite widespread documentation of bombings destroying protected civilian sites. pic.twitter.com\/8gy6Zx6eg2<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NIAC (@NIACouncil) May 14, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n