'US does not target civilians': White House rejects blame for deadly strike on Iranian girls' school
WASHINGTON, DC: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt formally denied US responsibility for a strike on an Iranian girls' elementary school that reportedly killed 175 people.
During the briefing on Wednesday, March 4, Leavitt pushed back against questions regarding American involvement, asserting that the United States military did not target civilians.
The press secretary contrasted American military protocols with those of the "rogue Iranian regime," cautioning reporters against "pointing the finger" at the US armed forces.
She confirmed that the Pentagon was investigating the strike, echoing statements made earlier by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Pentagon investigates school strike reports
Reporter: Did the United States airstrike at girls elementary school and kill 175 people?
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 4, 2026
Leavitt: Not that we know of. The US does not target civilians, unlike the rogue Iranian regime that uses propaganda quite effectively. And unfortunately, many people in this room have… pic.twitter.com/YgyfTe91q2
The administration maintained a firm stance that civilian casualties were not an intentional outcome of US operations.
Leavitt emphasized that targeting non-combatants was "not something that these armed forces do," even as the death toll at the elementary school remained a subject of international scrutiny.
The ongoing Pentagon investigation aimed to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Officials have yet to provide specific details on the ordnance used or the proximity of military targets to the school site.
White House defends preemptive strike rationale
Leavitt claims Trump decided to strike Iran because he had a "good feeling" that they were going to strike first pic.twitter.com/vrsdgYSU4X
— FactPost (@factpostnews) March 4, 2026
Addressing the origins of the conflict, Leavitt doubled down on President Trump's claim that he "had a good feeling" the Iranian regime was preparing to strike US assets and personnel in the region.
While a reported phone call between Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the whereabouts of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was deemed "important," Leavitt clarified that the president's intuition regarding an imminent threat was the primary driver.
The press secretary noted that while intelligence on Khamenei’s location influenced the operation's timeline, it did not represent the entirety of the president's decision-making process.
The administration continued to frame the launch of 'Operation Epic Fury' as a preemptive defensive measure.
Karoline Leavitt accuses media of misreporting on strikes
NEW: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt calls out the “misreporting” and “intellectual dishonesty” from the mainstream media on Operation Epic Fury:
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 4, 2026
"The world knows this president's preference is always peace and diplomacy..."
"Unfortunately, the terrorist Iranian… pic.twitter.com/7J5nVaispi
Leavitt targeted members of the media during the briefing, accusing them of "misreporting and intellectual dishonesty" regarding the rationale for initiating 'Operation Epic Fury'.
This rebuke followed scrutiny over conflicting accounts within the administration concerning the lead-up to Saturday’s strikes.
While Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that an imminent Israeli strike necessitated US preemptive action, President Trump claimed that he "forced Israel’s hand" and denied any pressure from Benjamin Netanyahu.
