Tag

#civilian infrastructure

Attacks on or destruction of infrastructure essential to civilian survival — power grids, water systems, bridges, ports, telecommunications. Targeting civilian infrastructure violates the principle of distinction under international humanitarian law.

7 incidents

Grade 3 of 5: Serious Rights Violation

US Strikes Hit Water Desalination Plant and Highway Bridges in Iran's Hormozgan Province, Cutting Drinking Water to 10,000 People (July 2026)

In mid-July 2026, US strikes in Hormozgan province hit bridges, tunnels, power infrastructure and a seawater desalination facility, leaving about 10,000 villagers without drinking water according to the regional water utility. Drinking-water installations are specially protected under the laws of war; the US has offered no target-specific justification.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Trump Issues Ultimatum: 'A Whole Civilization Will Die Tonight' Unless Iran Capitulates

Trump's explicit threats to destroy all civilian infrastructure in Iran — every bridge, every power plant — with the stated goal of ensuring Iran 'could literally never rebuild as a nation again' were characterised by Amnesty International as 'a threat to commit war crimes' and by HRW as threats against objects protected by IHL. Carrying them out would raise war-crime liability under Rome Statute art. 8(2)(b)(ii)/(iv). The threats themselves are prohibited by AP I art. 51(2) if their primary purpose is to terrorise civilians, but they are not a listed Rome Statute crime. The threatened nationwide demolition was not carried out on April 7.

Grade 3 of 5: Serious Rights Violation

U.S. Strike Destroys Iran's B1 Bridge, Killing Civilians on Nowruz Holiday

US forces destroyed Iran's landmark B1 bridge near Karaj in two strikes during Nowruz holiday celebrations, killing 8 civilians and wounding 95. The US military called the bridge a planned military supply route; Iran denies any military use, and no independent body has assessed the claim. The strike followed Trump's 'Stone Ages' threats against Iranian infrastructure.

Grade 3 of 5: Serious Rights Violation

Repeated Strikes Near Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant

Repeated strikes near an operating reactor in a city of 250,000 raise serious concerns under the customary duty to take particular care around installations containing dangerous forces (ICRC Rule 42). Imagery places the April impacts on an anti-aircraft site outside the plant fence; attribution of each strike is not independently confirmed, and no body has found that the plant itself was targeted.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Trump Threats to Obliterate Iran's Civilian Power Infrastructure

Trump's explicit threats to destroy Iran's civilian power infrastructure escalated from 'obliterate' to a promise of 'complete demolition' of every bridge and power plant. Amnesty International characterised them as threats to commit war crimes; no tribunal or UN body has found a threat itself criminal, and a threat is not a listed Rome Statute act. Strikes that were later carried out on Iranian bridges and power infrastructure are assessed in their own entries.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Attacks on Iranian Healthcare Facilities: WHO Verifies 18 Strikes on Hospitals and Medical Infrastructure

A sustained pattern of strikes on Iranian hospitals, ambulances, and medical infrastructure has killed healthcare workers and forced the evacuation of six hospitals. The WHO verified 18 attacks on health sites through mid-March 2026, documenting systematic damage to protected medical facilities including Gandhi Hospital and Iranian Red Crescent centers. WHO counted 21 attacks on health workers and facilities by late March, with 17 Red Crescent centres struck and nearly 100 ambulances damaged or destroyed.

Grade 5 of 5: International Crime (Rome Statute)

US Strikes on Ras Issa Fuel Port Kill 84+ Civilians in Yemen

US airstrikes on Yemen's most critical civilian port infrastructure killed 84+ civilians including three children, port workers, truck drivers, and civil defense personnel. HRW found the strikes an apparent war crime: CENTCOM's stated aim of depriving the Houthis of fuel revenue does not make the port a military objective, and even if valid military objectives were attacked, the civilian harm most likely made the attack unlawfully disproportionate.