More than 100 experts on international law have signed an open letter expressing profound concern about what they perceive as serious violations of international law by the US, Israel, and Iran in the ongoing middle eastern conflict.
They assert that the decision by the US and Israel to launch attacks against Iran constitutes a clear breach of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force unless in self-defence or with authorization from the UN Security Council.
The experts highlight alarming rhetoric from officials, including US President Donald Trump's threats to obliterate Iran's power plants.
In response, the White House argued that Trump's actions are making the region safer and dismissed the signatories as so-called experts.
The experts also criticized Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's assertion that no quarter should be given to enemies, emphasizing that such statements violate international humanitarian norms which protect individuals who surrender or are wounded.
The letter cites concerns over public remarks indicating a significant disrespect for established humanitarian laws that guard both civilian populations and combatants.
Among the signatories are notable legal scholars and former government officials, who collectively express alarm at the harmful implications for civilians in the region. They caution that current military conduct risks undermining the rule of law and fundamental protections under international norms.
Moreover, the IDF reported that missile attacks launched from Iran and Lebanon have resulted in civilian casualties, illustrating the dire consequences of the conflict's escalation.
Human Rights activists report a surge in civilian deaths, raising alarms about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Iran, further inflamed by military actions that defy international conventions.
Images of devastated locales, such as the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab where many lives were lost early in the conflict, reflect the human costs of warfare steeped in legal controversy.
