By Gloria Ogbonna
During a Friday appearance on “All In” on All In with Chris Hayes, Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) sharply criticized Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, arguing that the Pentagon must be held accountable for what he described as a troubling pattern of disregard for civilian casualties in recent military operations.
Host Chris Hayes raised concerns about new reporting and images emerging from Iran that appear to show landmines scattered in what analysts believe may be civilian areas. According to Hayes, the munitions may have been deployed from aircraft near potential missile launch sites — marking what could be the first time in years the United States has used such weapons in that manner.
Hayes asked Kim directly whether the reported deployment raised red flags.
“Absolutely,” Kim responded. “It highlights why we need public hearings to fully understand what actions are being taken in our name and what weapons are being deployed.” He emphasized that if the weapons in question are indeed U.S.-supplied landmines, their use would represent a significant and concerning shift in military policy.
Kim noted that landmines have long been controversial due to their lasting danger to civilians, often remaining active long after conflicts have ended. “There’s a reason we’ve tried to move away from using these kinds of weapons,” he said, pointing to the heightened risk of unintended civilian harm and the difficulty in ensuring precision targeting. “Deploying them in or near populated areas would be a huge step backward.”
Beyond the specific allegations about landmines, Kim argued that the issue reflects what he views as a broader pattern under Hegseth’s leadership at the Pentagon. He referenced previous military actions — including naval strikes and an attack on a school in Iran that reportedly resulted in the deaths of more than 160 people — as examples of operations that have drawn scrutiny over civilian impact.
Kim also highlighted legislation he helped push forward several years ago that established a Civilian Protection Center within the Department of Defense. The initiative was designed to improve targeting practices, increase transparency, and reduce civilian casualties following hard lessons learned during U.S. military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.
According to Kim, that office has since been significantly scaled back under Hegseth’s leadership. He claimed staffing has been reduced and funding efforts stalled, weakening oversight mechanisms meant to safeguard civilian lives during military operations.
“This looks like a pattern — not just neglect, but disregard,” Kim said. “When civilian casualties occur as a result of U.S. military action, that responsibility ultimately rests with us as a country. And the Secretary of Defense must be accountable for that.”
Kim reiterated his call for congressional hearings to examine the reported weapons deployment and broader operational decisions. He argued that greater transparency is necessary not only for oversight purposes but also to maintain U.S. credibility abroad.
The remarks underscore growing tensions in Washington over military strategy, the humanitarian consequences of armed conflict, and the balance between national security objectives and civilian protection standards.
As reports continue to emerge, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are expected to seek further clarity from the Pentagon regarding the scope and legality of recent operations.
Source Breitbart
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