Tag

#war crime

A specific serious violation of the laws and customs of war, including willful killing, torture, destruction of property, and attacks on protected persons or objects.

6 incidents

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 5 of 5: International Crime (Rome Statute)

Defense Secretary Hegseth Declares 'No Quarter, No Mercy' for Iran

The US Defense Secretary's public declaration of 'no quarter, no mercy for our enemies' is assessed as a probable war crime under Rome Statute Article 8(2)(b)(xii), which criminalizes 'declaring that no quarter will be given.' Recognized authorities have applied the law to the statement; no court has ruled. This prohibition is among the oldest in the laws of war.

Grade 3 of 5: Serious Rights Violation

Damage to Iranian UNESCO World Heritage Sites in US-Israeli Airstrikes

US-Israeli strikes have damaged UNESCO World Heritage Sites and over 100 cultural heritage sites across Iran, including Golestan Palace, Isfahan's Naqsh-e Jahan Square complex, the 8th-century Jameh Mosque, and prehistoric sites dating to 63,000 BC. Damage to cultural property is regulated by the 1954 Hague Convention and customary IHL. Intentionally directing attacks against historic monuments that are not military objectives is a war crime (Rome Statute art. 8(2)(b)(ix)); the documented damage so far was caused by strikes on nearby government buildings, and no investigative body has found that a heritage site was itself targeted.

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

Lamerd Sports Hall Strike: US Airburst Missiles Hit a Sports Centre, School and Homes in Southern Iran, Killing At Least 21 (February 2026)

Precision Strike Missiles, which burst above their target and scatter about 180,000 tungsten pellets, hit a sports hall, a school and homes in Lamerd on 28 February 2026, killing at least 21 civilians. A UN fact-finding mission found reasonable grounds that the US was responsible and that the strike was an indiscriminate attack amounting to a war crime under customary law, applying a recklessness standard. The US denies responsibility.

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

Minab School Strike: US Tomahawk Cruise Missile Kills At Least 156 at a Primary School

A Tomahawk cruise missile struck a primary school in Minab, Iran, killing at least 156 people, including 120 to 123 children, in one of the deadliest single incidents of civilian harm in the 2026 Iran war. Media investigations, a preliminary US military inquiry as reported, and the UN fact-finding mission (A/HRC/63/61) attribute the strike to the US.

Grade 5 of 5: International Crime (Rome Statute)

US Airstrike Kills 61 to 68 African Migrants in Yemen Detention Center

US airstrikes killed 61 to 68 detained African migrants sleeping in a Sa'ada detention center during Operation Rough Rider. Amnesty International's investigation found no evidence the facility was a military target and concluded the strike was indiscriminate and must be investigated as a war crime.