Over 100 international experts warn US strikes on Iran may amount to war crimes
The experts note a mid-March comment by Trump that the US could strike Iran "just for fun", and a comment by Pentagon Chief Hegseth that the US does not fight with "stupid rules of engagement."
Dozens of international law experts in the US have signed an open letter saying that American strikes on Iran may amount to war crimes, after President Donald Trump reiterated his threats this week to strike Iran's power and desalination plants.
Over 100 international law experts in the US, including from schools like Harvard, Yale, Stanford and the University of California, said in the letter released on Thursday that the conduct of US forces and statements by senior US officials "raise serious concerns about violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including potential war crimes."
The letter noted a mid-March comment from Trump where he said the US may conduct strikes on Iran "just for fun." It also cited comments from Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth from early March in which he said the US does not fight with "stupid rules of engagement."
"The war, which is costing U.S. taxpayers between $1-2 billion each day, is imposing significant harm to civilians in the region, has resulted in the loss of hundreds of civilian lives across the Middle East, and is causing serious environmental and economic harms," the experts said in the letter.
"We urge U.S. government officials to uphold the UN Charter, international humanitarian law, and human rights law at all times, and to publicly make clear U.S. commitment to and respect for norms of international law."
The letter was published on the website of the Just Security policy journal.
The experts said they were "seriously concerned about strikes that have hit schools, health facilities, and homes," noting a strike on a school in Iran on the war's first day.
'Dehumanising' rhetoric
Trump on Wednesday threatened to strike Iran "extremely hard."
"We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We are going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong," Trump said.
A leading US Muslim advocacy group warned that Trump's rhetoric during the war, including his threat to strike Iran "back to the Stone Ages," has been "dehumanising."
The war began when the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28, killing over 1,340 people.
Iran responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and US bases in Gulf countries.