Is the US committing war crimes in Iran? As the war escalates with each passing day, Israel and the US are facing critical questions from the critics of the war in these countries and abroad. For more than one month now, the US and Iran have not spared schools, hospitals, hotels, energy facilities, water systems, transportation networks, and other civilian sites.
On Thursday, the US continued the offensive. Trump claimed US forces struck major civilian infrastructure in Iran after the country could be bombed “back to the Stone Ages.” In the latest attack, the US targetted B-1 bridge near Tehran.
Iran’s Biggest Bridge B1 Destroyed, Says Donald Trump
Following the attack, Trump took to the social media platform Truth Social to celebrate the destruction of the bridge and warn Tehran of further military action.
“The biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again – Much more to follow!” he wrote.
In another post, the U.S. President issued a stark ultimatum to Iranian authorities.
“IT IS TIME FOR IRAN TO MAKE A DEAL BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF WHAT STILL COULD BECOME A GREAT COUNTRY,” Trump said.
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Trump Threatens Wider Destruction
Earlier this week, Trump threatened to expand the attacks to additional civilian infrastructure.
On Monday, the U.S. President warned that desalination plants across Iran, which are vital for drinking water supplies in the country’s arid Gulf regions, could be targeted.
A day later, Trump repeated his warning, stating that the United States could bomb Iran “back to the stone ages.”
Minutes after his remarks, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced the message with a short post on X.
“Back to the Stone Age,” Hegseth wrote.
How The US Attacked Civilian Infrastructure In Iran
Since February 28, thousands of strikes have been carried out across the country.
According to reports, the US has hit not only military-linked targets but also civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, airports and residential neighbourhoods.
Authorities claim that more than 2,000 people have been killed in strikes carried out by the United States and Israel, with attacks reported across nearly 90,000 civilian locations.
US Attack Schools, Kills Children
Among the most controversial incidents cited by Iranian officials is a strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran.
According to reports, the attack by the United States and Israel killed at least 170 people.
In another major incident, a cruise missile strike targeting an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps base in southern Iran reportedly hit a nearby school, killing nearly 200 people, the majority of them children.
Strikes on Financial and Academic Institutions
Civilian institutions have also been hit during the ongoing military campaign.
An overnight strike on March 11 targeted a branch of Bank Sepah in Tehran. Iranian state media described the attack as an “illegitimate and unusual act in war” and reported that several employees were killed in the strike.
Later in the month, on March 28, the Iran University of Science and Technology was also struck during the bombardment.
Healthcare Facilities Targeted
Iranian authorities say the country’s healthcare infrastructure has suffered extensive damage during the ongoing attacks.
According to Tehran, dozens of hospitals and medical centres have been damaged during the sustained bombardment, including a psychiatric hospital in the capital.
The World Health Organization confirmed that at least 13 attacks on healthcare facilities had been recorded in the early phase of the conflict.
Is US Committing War Crimes in Iran? Legal Experts Weigh In
International legal experts have criticised the actions of Israel in Iran,
More than 100 international law practitioners have issued a signed letter on Thursday expressing “profound concern” over the conduct of U.S. military operations in Iran.
The US-based experts said the ongoing assault raised serious questions under international law.
“The conduct of the US military in Iran raises serious concerns about violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including potential war crimes,” the letter stated.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
