Gavin Newsom Slams Iran Military Op, Cites Iranian State Media To Condemn U.S. Strikes

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing scrutiny after sharply criticizing the U.S. operation in Iran, asserting that American or Israeli strikes “killed children, young girls at a school,”  a claim for which there is currently no independent verification.

At a Monday press briefing, Newsom questioned President Donald Trump’s justification for the strikes, asking what “imminent threat” prompted the action. He went further, stating: “We have to reconcile why our bombs were used, or Israeli bombs were used to kill children, young girls at a school,” referencing reports circulated by Iranian state media that blamed the U.S. and Israel for the alleged incident.

As of this writing, however, there have been no confirmed reports from the Pentagon, the Israeli Defense Forces, independent news organizations, or credible international monitoring groups that a U.S. or Israeli strike hit a school or killed children in the current round of operations. Publicly identified targets have included Iranian military infrastructure, missile sites, drone facilities, and assets linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. U.S. officials have indicated that any credible allegation of civilian casualties would be reviewed, but no evidence has emerged supporting the specific claim Newsom cited.

In previous operations, both the United States and Israel have routinely released strike footage, target descriptions, and post-strike assessments. No such material has substantiated the allegation that a school was deliberately targeted. Without corroboration, the claim rests primarily on Iranian state-linked narratives, which have historically characterized military site strikes as attacks on civilian locations. While civilian-adjacent targeting environments can complicate battlefield assessments, there is no verified evidence at this stage that a school was struck by U.S. or Israeli forces.

Newsom also warned that “Gulf allies [are] being attacked,” presenting regional retaliation as evidence of widening instability. But official statements from Saudi Arabia and other allies reflect a posture of condemnation toward Iran and coordination among U.S.-aligned states rather than distancing from Washington.

Saudi Arabia confirmed Saturday that Iran launched strikes targeting Riyadh and the Kingdom’s Eastern Province. In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said it “expressed its strongest condemnation of the blatant and cowardly Iranian attacks targeting the Riyadh and Eastern Province regions, which were repelled.”

According to the Saudi Press Agency, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also held calls with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan following Iranian missile launches targeting U.S. bases across the region.

During those calls, Prince Mohammed “affirmed the Kingdom’s full solidarity and standing alongside the brotherly countries, and the Kingdom’s readiness to place all its capabilities at their disposal,” the agency said. Rather than signaling a rupture with Washington or distancing from U.S. operations, the Saudi statements emphasize regional coordination and collective security.

Newsom further criticized Trump over the deaths of U.S. servicemembers during the operation, accusing the president of focusing on personal matters instead of the fallen troops. Later updates indicated the death toll had risen from four to six service members.

In fast-moving conflicts, allegations of casualties and civilian harm often surface before verification. But when a sitting governor asserts that U.S. or Israeli forces killed schoolchildren, that charge carries consequences. As of now, there is no confirmed evidence supporting that allegation. At the same time, key Gulf allies have publicly condemned Iran’s strikes and affirmed solidarity with one another against the regime in Tehran.

The contrast is clear: while regional governments are issuing formal statements attributing aggression to Tehran and coordinating their response, Newsom has amplified an unverified claim and framed allied retaliation as evidence of collapse. The available record shows no confirmed school strike and no visible fracture among U.S. partners, only Iranian attacks, allied condemnation, and a conflict still unfolding, not to be judged prematurely.