The Pentagon on Monday distanced itself from U.S. President Donald Trump's assertions that he would bomb Iranian cultural sites despite international prohibitions on such attacks.
Defence Secretary Mark Esper said the U.S. will "follow the laws of armed conflict." When asked if that ruled out targeting cultural sites, Esper said pointedly, "That's the laws of armed conflict."
Trump first raised the prospect of targeting cultural sites in a tweet on Saturday and reiterated that view to reporters the next day. "They're allowed to kill our people. They're allowed to torture and maim our people. They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people," he told reporters travelling with him on Air Force One. "And we're not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way.
Any targets would go through a lengthy vetting process within the military and the Pentagon to determine that they are legal, appropriate and proportionate to any Iranian action. Only after that process is complete would a list of potential sites go before the president for approval."It shows that he is somewhat deranged about this," said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. "The pledge to attack cultural sites, likely, is a violation of international law.
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