CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper pushed back Wednesday after Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., pressed him to acknowledge U.S. responsibility for a strike that Smith said killed more than 150 schoolgirls in Tehran, insisting the investigation remains ongoing and that American forces do not deliberately target civilians.
Cooper rejected Smith’s claim of bombing civilians, telling the House Armed Services Committee that the U.S. does not intentionally target civilians and that “the Iranian people” are not the enemy.
“Congressman, to reiterate, the United States does not deliberately target civilians. Full stop,” Cooper said. “And nor are the Iranian people our enemy. The IRGC is the adversary in this case.”
Smith cut in, accusing the military of stalling and asking whether Cooper would “acknowledge that that mistake was made and that we were responsible for it.”
Cooper responded that the inquiry is still underway and said the case is not straightforward because of the school’s location.
“The investigation is ongoing,” Cooper said. “As soon as it is complete, I’m happy to be — it’s a complex investigation. The school itself is located on an active IRGC cruise missile base. It’s more complex than the average strike. As soon as we’re complete, I’m fully committed to transparency, given your important oversight role and the other members here.”
Iran, like its terrorist proxies in the Middle East, has been accused of using civilians as human shields.
“So that’s a no, we will not take responsibility for something we very obviously did,” Smith replied.
The exchange grew sharper when Smith asked Cooper whether it was appropriate for a senior official to use the phrase “no quarter” to describe U.S. operations in Iran.
Cooper avoided directly endorsing or condemning the phrase, saying military leaders are bound by the law of armed conflict.
“I think it’s appropriate, as military leaders, we follow the law of armed conflict and our constitutional responsibilities. And that’s what we’ve done,” Cooper said.
“Is no quarter following the law or not?” Smith pressed on.
Cooper answered, “I would agree that we follow the law, sir.”