Democrats Press Pentagon on Iran Civilian Deaths

Democratic lawmakers are pressing the Pentagon to answer questions about U.S. airstrikes that killed civilians in Iran, in a possible preview of the party’s oversight agenda should it win control in the midterm elections next month. The members focused on a strike in September in which three adults and two children at a wedding were killed . The strike also injured some 70 people. In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the House Democrats have demanded the Pentagon provide an account of the strike on Sept. 1 as well as other incidents in which large numbers of civilians were killed.

“This is the latest in an alarming pattern of civilian casualty incidents in strikes carried out by the United States in Iran since the war began,” the lawmakers wrote. The House Democrats, for now, have little leverage to pressure the Department of Defense for answers. But should the party take control one or both chambers of Congress, the issue of civilian casualties in the Iran war could well become a focus. The effort, led by Representatives Jason Crow of Colorado, Sara Jacobs of California and Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, had 74 signatures in all, demonstrating broad concern within the Democratic caucus.

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