Adm. Brad Cooper, the top U.S. commander overseeing operations in Iran, told senators that a strike on an Iranian school may have been the only civilian casualty incident in a campaign of more than 13,600 strikes. The Feb. 28 attack on Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school, which Iranian officials said killed 175 people, mostly children, remains under investigation.

Cooper's claims drew sharp skepticism from lawmakers and human rights groups. The New York Times has verified damage to 22 schools and 17 health care facilities, while the Iranian Red Crescent reported at least 763 schools and 316 health facilities damaged or destroyed. Airwars, a British nonprofit, has recorded at least 300 civilian casualty events in Iran.

The hearing also revealed significant cuts to civilian harm mitigation efforts. The team at U.S. Central Command has shrunk from 10 officers to just one over the past year, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has terminated dozens of positions focused on civilian deaths. Senator Mark Kelly pressed Cooper on whether he would reinstate those officers if targeting errors are confirmed. Cooper remained noncommittal.