Article 768FV Military strikes on water facilities in Iran may constitute a war crime, experts say

Military strikes on water facilities in Iran may constitute a war crime, experts say

by
Cate Brown in Washington
from on (#768FV)

Strikes on Bemani damaged key water reservoir for 20,000 people living in area amid a historic drought in the country

Military strikes that damaged two water storage facilities in southern Iran may constitute a war crime, military and legal experts say, after reviewing media reports and visual evidence of a 10 June strike on Bemani, a small district about 2 miles from the strait of Hormuz.

It's unclear if the strikes deliberately targeted the district's water tanks, or if they unintentionally destroyed a key reservoir for about 20,000 people living nearby. But if the tanks were the target, then the legal question becomes critical, Brian Finucane, a former state department lawyer, said. It's either a military objective or it's a civilian object: attacking one is lawful, attacking the other is a war crime," Finucane said.

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