Amnesty International says US, Israeli strikes on Tehran may amount to war crimes

Report examines three attacks on densely populated neighbourhoods that killed at least 41 civilians

edit

By LineZotpaper

Published9 September 2026

Read Time3 min

Amnesty International has called for formal investigations into three American and Israeli airstrikes on densely packed suburbs of Tehran, arguing the choice of weapons and devastating civilian toll — at least 41 people killed — may constitute war crimes. The advocacy group's report, released Monday, examined strikes in March and found that while the intended military targets may have been legitimate, the predictable harm to surrounding civilians and infrastructure should have prompted commanders to abort or alter the attacks.

Amnesty International is demanding formal investigations into three American and Israeli attacks on densely packed suburbs in Tehran that killed at least 41 civilians, arguing the devastating impact and choice of weapons may amount to war crimes.

The advocacy group examined the March incidents, analysing photos and videos of the attacks available on social media as well as eyewitness accounts and official reports in Iranian state media to question the legitimacy of the strikes.

It found that the targets of the strikes, namely police stations and paramilitary compounds, may have been justified under international law.

But Amnesty said the damage to the surrounding areas, specifically civilian apartment blocks and businesses in congested neighbourhoods, should have been cause to rethink the attacks because of "entirely predictable consequences for civilians".

"Military combatants have to take feasible precautions to avoid civilian casualties," Andrew Witheford, a spokesperson for Amnesty International Australia, told the ABC.

"If it's possible, they need to give warning, and the strike itself and the action taken need to be proportionate to the military objectives that are being sought."

"Our analysis of these three attacks indicate that this bar wasn't cleared."

Amnesty, which describes the US and Israel's war with Iran as unlawful, said the two countries must allow independent investigations of their conduct relating to the three attacks, as well as the widely criticised strike on the Minab school on the very first day of the war which killed 150 people, including 120 children.

When asked whether those countries would launch independent investigations, Mr Witheford said: "It saddens me to say that it's not looking good so far."

'Horrific' scenes after early air strikes

One of the attacks investigated by Amnesty was on Niloufar Square in central Tehran on the evening of March 1, the second day of the war. A police station appeared to be the target, but significant damage was reported to nearby apartment buildings and shops in the area. Iranian officials said at least 20 civilians were killed in the strikes.

Amnesty said it had spoken to a local journalist, whom the organisation named "Kiana", who said that the scene was "horrific" and that between 15 and 20 apartment buildings had been damaged in the blasts. She told the organisation that a father and son working in a bakery were believed to be among the dead.

The second strike was on the Resalat neighbourhood in eastern Tehran, where Iranian officials said at least 16 people were killed, including 12 members of the same family, on the afternoon of March 9. The strike there appeared to target a building belonging to the Basij, the Iranian regime's notorious paramilitary branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Amnesty's investigation revealed another three buildings were badly damaged, but the organisation could only verify one as being a residential block. One source it spoke to insisted the residents of the building, known as Number 12, were all civilians, and said he had seen horrific injuries and bodies blown to pieces.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The report adds to mounting evidence of potential war crimes in the US-Israel-Iran conflict, which has already seen mass civilian casualties.
If investigations are not carried out, it could set a dangerous precedent for future urban warfare and erode international humanitarian law.
The findings may fuel calls for accountability through the International Criminal Court or UN mechanisms, increasing diplomatic pressure on Washington and Jerusalem.

Background

The US and Israel launched a military campaign against Iran in March 2026, beginning with airstrikes on Tehran and other cities. The first day of the war included a controversial strike on the Minab school that killed 150 people, including 120 children. Since then, both countries have faced accusations of failing to distinguish between military targets and civilian infrastructure. Amnesty International has been documenting alleged violations and has previously called the war unlawful. The three attacks examined in this report occurred in central and eastern Tehran over the first nine days of the conflict.

Key Perspectives

Amnesty International: Argues that the three attacks failed to meet legal requirements for proportionality and precaution, because the use of explosive weapons in dense urban areas and the lack of warnings caused foreseeable civilian harm. It insists independent investigations are necessary to determine whether war crimes were committed. US and Israeli governments: Neither country has publicly commented on the specific allegations in the Amnesty report. During the conflict, both have maintained that their operations targeted military objectives and that they take steps to avoid civilian casualties. No independent investigation has been announced. Critics and skeptics: Some analysts note that international humanitarian law permits attacks on military objectives even if civilians are harmed, provided the harm is not excessive relative to the military advantage. The debate over proportionality is inherently subjective, and the US and Israel may argue that the strikes on police stations and Basij compounds offered significant military value.

What to Watch

Whether the US or Israel announces any form of internal investigation into the three strikes or the Minab school attack.
The release of further Amnesty or UN reports detailing additional attacks, which could build a cumulative case for international action.
Any moves by the International Criminal Court to open a formal probe into the conflict, which would require cooperation from Iran as a state party.

Sources

Three attacks in Tehran could 'amount to war crimes', report finds — Just In