A landmark report by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran released for submission to the UN Human Rights Council, states there are reasonable grounds to believe US forces committed war crimes during military operations in Iran.
Deadly strikes investigated
The UN investigation focused on two separate airstrikes carried out on February 28. The first target was the Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab, where a missile attack killed more than 150 civilians including 120 children.
Investigators noted that the school was a clearly identifiable civilian facility with no evidence of military use. The second strike targeted a sports complex and adjacent residential area in Lamerd, resulting in 22 civilian casualties. The UN panel designated both incidents as reckless and indiscriminate attacks under international humanitarian law.
Broader findings on conflict
While the preliminary US assessment suggested the school strike may have resulted from outdated targeting data, the UN team emphasized that military forces acted with reckless disregard toward known civilian risks. US Central Command previously denied responsibility for the Lamerd attack.
Accusations against Tehran
The UN report also turned its lens on internal actions by Iranian security forces during widespread anti-government protests that started in late December.
It concluded that Iranian authorities committed crimes against humanity through unlawful killings, torture and arbitrary detentions to suppress dissent, trapping Iranian civilians between international military strikes and state-sponsored domestic violence.
