Vance Defends US Targeting Policy Amid Rising Civilian Death Toll in Iran

The administration’s stance remains one of denial, framing civilian deaths as unfortunate accidents rather than strategy. However, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports that between February 28 and April 7, at least 1,701 civilians were killed. Data from the conflict’s first 40 days suggests that 77% of verified incidents involved harm to civilians or civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and cultural sites.

Patterns of Destruction

Critics argue these figures reflect a systemic disregard for human life. Wes J. Bryant, the Pentagon’s former chief of civilian harm assessments, rejected the administration’s explanation of mere error. He asserts that every target is recorded at multiple levels of the chain of command, making it highly improbable that strikes on high-profile locations like the Minab elementary school—which resulted in 150 deaths—were unintentional. CodePink analysts further noted that the recent wedding bombing utilized precision-guided Boeing missiles, fueling allegations that the administration is knowingly resorting to tactics of mass civilian harm as the war effort struggles to gain ground.