UN Reports War Crimes
UN Fact-Finding Mission Accuses U.S. of War Crimes and Iran of Crimes Against Humanity
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Key Points
1
The strikes occurred on February 28, at the start of the war, according to the U.N.-backed findings and related reporting.
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There is a discrepancy in reported deaths from the Minab school strike: Iranian state media said 168 people were killed, while the U.N. commission cited independent reports putting the toll at 157.
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The separate strike on the sports complex in Lamerd, Fars province, killed 22 people according to official figures cited in the report.
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International media reported that the weapon used in the Lamerd attack may have been a new type of U.S. munition that exploded in the air and scattered tungsten fragments.
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The fact-finding mission described killings by Iranian state security forces as occurring on a “staggering scale” and said civilians were caught between abuses by their own government and the conflict involving the United States and Israel.
A United Nations fact-finding mission has concluded there are reasonable grounds to believe U.S. forces committed war crimes in two February airstrikes in Iran. Deccan Chronicle reports that the strikes—on a primary school in Minab and a sports complex in Fars province—killed at least 178 people combined and targeted sites that were not military objectives. The investigators found that U.S. forces relied on outdated intelligence, failed to verify targets, and proceeded despite knowing civilians were at risk.
The U.N. mission also found that Iranian security forces committed crimes against humanity during a crackdown on anti-government protests that began in late December. AJC notes the findings described killings by Iran on a "staggering scale," with civilians caught between abuses by their own government and the U.S.-Israel conflict. Both the U.S. and Iran reject the allegations.
School Strike Killed Over 150 Civilians, Mostly Children
The attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school in Minab was one of two strikes the U.N. deemed indiscriminate and unjustified. Democrata reports the bombing killed at least 150 people, many of them children. Iranian state media claimed 168 deaths, while the U.N. commission cited independent reports putting the toll at 157. The investigators concluded the strike damaged a civilian object and violated the law of armed conflict.
Second Strike on Sports Complex Killed 22 People
A separate February 28 attack struck a sports complex in Lamerd, Fars province, killing 22 people according to official figures cited in the U.N. report. TRT World reports this strike was also deemed indiscriminate. International media reported the weapon may have been a new type of U.S. munition that exploded in the air and scattered tungsten fragments across a wider area, increasing civilian casualties.
U.S. Relied on Outdated Intelligence, Failed Verification
The U.N. investigators said U.S. forces did not properly identify their targets before striking. Head Topics reports the mission found U.S. forces relied on outdated intelligence and failed to verify that the school and sports complex were military targets. Despite knowing a substantial risk to civilians existed, the military proceeded with the strikes. U.S. officials maintain the operations complied with international law.
Iran's Crackdown on Protests Deemed Crimes Against Humanity
The U.N. mission also investigated Iranian state actions during the December protests and found crimes against humanity. Deccan Chronicle reports Iranian security forces conducted large-scale killings, imposed internet restrictions, and used the death penalty against protesters. The investigators described these abuses as occurring on a "staggering scale." The Iranian government rejects allegations of systematic abuses. The findings will be submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council.
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