International Law Experts Express Deep Concern Over Middle East Conflict
More than 100 international law experts have signed an open letter voicing their "profound concern" regarding what they identify as serious breaches of international law by the United States, Israel, and Iran amid the ongoing Middle East war.
The signatories assert that the US and Israeli decision to launch attacks on Iran constitutes a clear violation of the United Nations Charter, which forbids the use of force except in cases of self-defense or when authorized by the UN Security Council.
They highlight the "alarming rhetoric" employed by officials, including US President Donald Trump's threats to "obliterate" Iran's power plants.
The White House responded by stating that President Trump is working to make the entire region safer and dismissed the concerns raised by what it termed "so-called experts."
In their letter, the experts also criticized Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's declaration that "no quarter" should be given to enemies.
In the context of armed conflict, denial of quarter means refusing to spare the lives of any combatants, including those who surrender or are wounded.
The letter's authors emphasize that, under international law, it is "especially forbidden" to declare that no quarter will be given, a prohibition also outlined in the Department of Defense's own law of war manual.
They state:
"We are gravely concerned that the conduct and threats outlined here are causing serious harm to civilians and that they risk degrading the rule of law and fundamental norms that protect every nation's civilians.
Public statements by senior officials indicate an alarming disrespect for the rules of international humanitarian law accepted by states, and which protect both civilians and members of the armed forces."
In a separate statement, the White House accused Iranian authorities of "maiming and killing Americans, acting as the number one state sponsor of terror, and brutally murdering its own people for merely speaking out against its oppressive rule" over the past 47 years.
The statement reaffirmed that President Trump is "making the entire region safer and more stable by eliminating Iran's short- and long-term threats to the United States and our allies."
The conflict has reportedly resulted in thousands of casualties.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday, Tom Fletcher, the UN humanitarian chief, remarked that "somewhere along the way" international law had been "thrown aside."
He added, "The rules are very clear and very strong," but identified "enforcement" as the primary issue. Fletcher described the war as "reckless."
Attack on Iranian School Raises Legal and Humanitarian Concerns
The experts' letter also draws attention to an attack on a primary school in the Iranian town of Minab on the first day of the war, which reportedly killed at least 168 people, including 110 children.
The US Department of Defense has announced an investigation into the incident, as mounting evidence suggests the strike may have been caused by a US operation.
One theory under consideration is that the school, located adjacent to an Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps base, was hit due to outdated intelligence.
The letter states that the strike "likely violates international humanitarian law, and if evidence is found that those responsible were reckless, it could also be a war crime."
The letter was published in Just Security, an online journal affiliated with New York University School of Law.
