More than 100 experts on international law have signed an open letter expressing 'profound concern' about what they see as serious violations of international law by the US, Israel and Iran in the ongoing Middle East war.
The experts assert that the US-Israeli decision to attack Iran represents a clear breach of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force outside of self-defense or without authorization from the UN Security Council.
They point out the 'alarming rhetoric' from officials, including US President Donald Trump's threats to 'obliterate' Iran's power plants.
In response, the White House stated that Trump is making the region safer, dismissing the views of these 'so-called experts.'
The letter criticizes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's asserted stance of giving 'no quarter' to enemies, indicating a refusal to spare the lives of those who surrender—a principle expressly forbidden in international law.
The experts highlight the significant number of civilian casualties, with reports indicating that 1,606 civilians, including 244 children, have been killed in Iran since the start of the conflict. Meanwhile, missile attacks on Israel launched from Iran and Lebanon have resulted in 19 civilian deaths.
In a separate incident, the attack on a primary school in Minab, Iran, on the war's first day, reportedly killed at least 168, prompting investigations from the US Department of Defense. Early evidence suggests it may have been a consequence of a US strike, raising further international law violations claims.
The experts conclude that such conduct poses a grave threat to civilians and violates humanitarian law principles, risking a degradation of fundamental norms that protect civilian lives in conflict.
