The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) is facing a wave of backlash after posting — and swiftly deleting — a controversial message on social media expressing condolences for Iran following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The original post, shared Sunday on the platform X, read: “Our hearts go out to the victims and families impacted by the recent bombings in Iran. While this tragic event happened overseas, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is closely monitoring the situation alongside our local, state and federal partners.”
The statement quickly drew outrage from the public and commentators online, who blasted it as factually inaccurate and politically inappropriate. Critics pointed out that there were no confirmed civilian casualties from the targeted U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites — which were conducted under “Operation: Midnight Hammer” and aimed specifically at military and nuclear infrastructure in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Commenters questioned why a local law enforcement agency was weighing in on international military operations, especially given ongoing criticism of LASD’s response to recent unrest in Los Angeles. Just weeks earlier, the department was widely condemned for its passive handling of violent anti-ICE protests that escalated into looting, arson, and attacks on public property.
Social media erupted with condemnation of the LASD post. Advocacy group Stop Antisemitism responded: “We sincerely hope your account was hacked. There were no victims in last night’s successful targeting of Iran’s nuclear sites.” Others called the statement “pathetic,” “embarrassing,” and “disrespectful,” especially in light of the Jewish community’s deep ties to Los Angeles.
Following the backlash, LASD deleted the post and issued a formal apology:
“This post was unacceptable, made in error, and does not reflect the views of Sheriff Robert G. Luna or the Department. As a law enforcement agency, we do not comment on foreign policy or military matters. Our mission remains solely focused on protecting public safety and serving our diverse communities.”
The department added that an internal review has been launched to determine how the message was created and published, and promised stronger oversight of future communications.
The apology did little to calm critics. Many demanded disciplinary action against the personnel responsible for the post and accused the department of neglecting its primary responsibilities.
Others focused on the perceived double standard, questioning why the department issued sympathy for Iran but not during recent attacks on Israeli civilians. Some called for a direct apology to the Jewish community, noting the omission in the department’s follow-up statement.
