Amnesty International Calls for Investigations into Potential War Crimes in Tehran Strikes

Amnesty International has raised alarms regarding three military strikes conducted by the United States and Israel on Tehran in March, suggesting that the damage inflicted on civilian areas may constitute war crimes. The human rights organization emphasizes that while the intended military targets might have been legitimate, the extensive collateral damage to residential neighborhoods was an entirely foreseeable outcome.

Casualties and Damage Report

The report details that at least 41 civilians lost their lives due to these strikes, which particularly devastated crowded suburbs. In the Niloufar Square attack on March 1, a police station was reportedly the target, yet significant destruction occurred in nearby apartment buildings, leading to a local journalist characterizing the aftermath as "horrific." This strike resulted in at least 20 civilian fatalities, including a father and son working in a local bakery.

Assessments of Military Legitimacy

Amnesty's investigation further scrutinized two additional strikes: one in the Resalat neighborhood, which killed at least 16, including a dozen members of a single family, and another in Javadieh that left five dead. The report argues that the attacks violated international humanitarian law principles, particularly regarding the duty to avoid civilian casualties. Andrew Witheford, a spokesperson for Amnesty International Australia, stressed the necessity for military operations to take feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians.

Call for Independent Investigations

Amnesty International is calling for both the U.S. and Israel to permit independent investigations into these military actions, as well as a widely criticized strike on the Minab school that resulted in 150 deaths, including 120 children. The organization expressed skepticism about the likelihood of such investigations being conducted, citing a lack of response from the two nations regarding their military operations.

Source: www.abc.net.au