McConnell: ‘Not appropriate’ to target Iranian cultural sites

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday broke with President Trump by saying it would not be appropriate to target Iranian cultural sites if hostilities in the Middle East escalate.

“That is not appropriate,” McConnell said, delivering a clear statement that U.S. forces should abide by the rules of war, which prohibit deliberate targeting of cultural sites.

The debate over targeting such sites erupted over the weekend when Trump warned via Twitter that the U.S. had a list of more than 50 targets, including cultural sites, it would attack if Tehran attacked Americans or U.S. assets in response to the killing of Qassem Soleimani, leader of the country’s elite Quds Force.

Trump tweeted on Saturday that U.S. military officials had identified “52 Iranian sites” including “some at a very high level & important to Iran & Iranian culture” for potential targeting.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday contradicted Trump by announcing “we will follow the laws of armed conflict.”

He acknowledged to CNN that the prohibition on targeting cultural sites is mandated by “the laws of armed conflict.”

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also told reporters at a recent news conference that “every effort that’s being made will always be conducted inside the international laws of war.”

McConnell on Tuesday endorsed the statements by Esper and Pompeo and emphasized that destroying historic mosques and other sites important to Iranian culture would be out of bounds.

“I want to associate myself with the secretary of Defense and the secretary of State with regard to the appropriateness of cultural sites being targeted. That is not appropriate,” he said.