Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth found himself at odds with President Donald Trump after refusing to fully endorse the claim that Iran was responsible for a deadly missile strike on a girls’ school in southern Iran. The disagreement, which occurred aboard Air Force One on Saturday, marked a rare moment of dissonance between the two figures, with Hegseth appearing to challenge Trump’s narrative.

Dispute Over Responsibility for School Strike

When asked by a reporter about the attack on the Shajareye Tayabeh girls’ school in Minab, which was struck by three missiles on February 28, Trump immediately dismissed reports that U.S. forces were involved. ‘It was done by Iran,’ he said, emphasizing that the Iranian military is ‘very inaccurate’ in its targeting.

Hegseth, however, responded with a more measured tone, stating, ‘We’re certainly investigating,’ and adding, ‘The only side that targets civilians is Iran.’ His response did not fully align with Trump’s assertion, prompting the president to repeat his claim that Iran was responsible for the strike.

The school, located in the southern city of Minab, was hit during the opening salvo of the ongoing conflict, which has now entered its second week. According to preliminary assessments from two anonymous U.S. officials, American forces are likely responsible for the strike. However, the findings are described as tentative and subject to change.

International Reactions and Investigations

The New York Times has reported that the U.S. military is ‘most likely to have carried out the strike,’ citing the proximity of the school to an IRGC naval base, a confirmed target. The newspaper suggested the strike may have resulted from either a weapons malfunction or a significant intelligence failure.

Israeli UN ambassador Danny Danon addressed the incident on Fox News, stating, ‘We do not target civilians. Sometimes we have accidents. I don’t know about this particular incident. It’s being investigated by the IDF and by the U.S. troops.’ He added, ‘I’m sure they will issue a report, but we regret the loss of any civilians.’

The death toll from the attack is estimated to be between 165 and 180 people, with the majority being girls aged between 7 and 12. Funerals for the victims were held on March 3. Iranian state media has also reported that two additional schools were hit in Parand, southwest of the capital Tehran.

According to UNICEF, at least 20 schools and 10 hospitals have been damaged in Iran since the start of ‘Operation Epic Fury.’

Implications of the Conflict

The Trump administration had initially suggested the conflict would be brief, but Trump has since indicated he expects it to last at least four to five weeks. The ongoing conflict has already led to a surge in fuel prices in the U.S., with airlines warning that flight prices will soon rise in line with jet fuel costs. Other goods and services are also expected to increase as the conflict continues.

Hegseth, a former Fox News anchor, told reporters on Monday that the conflict ‘will include casualties’ and that ‘war is hell.’ He added, ‘No stupid rules of engagement, no nation-building quagmire, no democracy-building exercise, no politically correct wars.’

Earlier, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social, vowing to continue ‘delivering hell’ to Iran. ‘Today Iran will be hit very hard!’ he wrote. ‘Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran’s bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time.’

The Pentagon has not commented on the incident beyond stating that it is ‘investigating.’ The controversy over the school strike has raised questions about the accuracy of military actions and the potential for civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict.