International law experts allege violations in Iran war

Key Points:

• Over 100 international law experts have signed an open letter condemning alleged serious violations of international law by the US, Israel, and Iran in the Middle East conflict, citing breaches of the UN Charter and international humanitarian law.
• The experts criticized US and Israeli attacks on Iran as unauthorized uses of force, and condemned inflammatory rhetoric from officials, including President Trump's threats to "obliterate" Iranian power plants and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's call for "no quarter" to enemies, which violates laws prohibiting refusal to spare lives.
• The letter highlights civilian casualties, including over 1,600 killed in Iran, more than 1,300 in Lebanon from Israeli strikes, and deaths in Gulf states due to Iranian attacks, expressing grave concern over harm to civilians and erosion of legal norms protecting them.
• The US Department of Defense is investigating a deadly strike on a primary school in Minab, Iran, that killed at least 168 people, with experts warning the attack may constitute a war crime if recklessness is proven.
• The White House defended its actions as efforts to make the region safer, accusing Iran of terrorism and oppression, while UN humanitarian officials lamented the disregard and poor enforcement of international law amid the ongoing conflict.