UN human‑rights experts have concluded, after a field investigation, that the United States may have committed war crimes in Iran during a series of air strikes in February. The experts, speaking on behalf of the United Nations, said they possess "reasonable grounds" to consider the attacks on a civilian school and a sports facility as breaches of the laws of armed conflict.

The first incident cited involved a "double‑tap" strike on an elementary school in Minab, a city in Iran's southern Hormozgan province, on 28 February. According to the UN report, the initial bomb caused massive casualties, and a subsequent strike hit survivors who had taken shelter in the wreckage. The combined death toll was reported at 165, with the majority of victims identified as children aged seven to twelve.

A second attack, also attributed to US forces, targeted a sports hall in the nearby town of Lamerd. The strike resulted in at least 21 fatalities, including a significant number of teenage girls who were present for a training session. The UN team highlighted the lack of any evident military objective at the venue, raising further concerns about proportionality and distinction under international humanitarian law.

The findings echo earlier reporting by Middle East Eye, which documented the two strikes and noted the high civilian death toll. The outlet also referenced a New York Times investigation that examined the operational details of the Minab attack, though the specific conclusions of that report were not reproduced in the UN statement.

UN experts emphasized that the determination of war crimes requires a thorough legal analysis, but they indicated that the evidence gathered on the ground, including eyewitness accounts and forensic data, supports the allegation of unlawful use of force. The mission’s mandate included assessing compliance with the Geneva Conventions and other statutes governing the protection of civilians during armed conflict.

The United States has not publicly responded to the UN experts’ assessment as of the time of this report. No formal legal proceedings have been initiated, and the UN panel has called for further independent investigations to verify the facts and, if warranted, to pursue accountability mechanisms.

The situation adds to a growing international debate over the legality of cross‑border strikes conducted by major powers. Human‑rights organisations have repeatedly warned that such operations risk violating the principle of sovereignty and the protection afforded to non‑combatants under international law. The UN experts’ statement underscores the need for transparent inquiries into the conduct of the February attacks and for any responsible parties to be held to account under the applicable legal frameworks.

Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Middle East Eye — original source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/un-rights-experts-say-us-likely-committed-war-crimes-iran.