US Legal Experts Condemn Strikes on Iran as Possible War Crimes

Over 100 US-based international law experts have signed an open letter expressing concerns about the conduct and rhetoric surrounding the US-Israeli military strikes on Iran. The letter, published on Thursday, highlights several areas of concern regarding the legality of the decision to go to war, the conduct of hostilities, and public statements by senior officials.

The scholars note that the US-Israeli campaign, launched on February 28, was carried out without UN Security Council authorization and without credible evidence of an imminent Iranian threat. They emphasize that force against another state is only permitted in self-defense or where authorized by the UN Security Council.

The experts’ concerns fall into four categories: the legality of the decision to go to war, the conduct of hostilities, public statements by senior officials, and the dismantling of civilian protection structures within the US government. They cite specific incidents, including a strike on a primary school in Minab, Iran, that killed at least 175 people, most of whom were children.

The letter also condemns public statements by senior US officials, including President Donald Trump’s comment about potentially conducting strikes “just for fun.” The scholars express concern about the war’s impact on international law and the system of international law, highlighting the importance of equal application of these laws to all countries.

The signatories, who include prominent legal scholars such as Oona Hathaway and Philip Alston, are urging US government officials to uphold international law and make clear their commitment to respecting norms of international law. The letter concludes by calling on Washington to change course and prioritize the principles of international law.

Source: Al Jazeera