U.N. mission details war crimes claims on U.S., Iran

Olivia Le Poidevin

REUTERS

GENEVA – A United Nations factfinding mission on Iran said on Sept.17 it had reasonable grounds to believe the United States was behind two military strikes on a school and sports facility in Iran in February, and that these constituted war crimes.

It also found that Iranian authorities committed crimes against humanity during their deadly crackdown on

anti-government protests.

The findings in a new report by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, to be submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, examined the United States’ conduct during the Iran war that began in February and the Iranian government’s response to nationwide unrest that begun in late December.

The Iranian and U.S. permanent missions in Geneva did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

U.S. officials have previously said military operations are conducted in accordance with the law of armed conflict, while Iran has consistently rejected allegations of systematic rights violations.

The U.N. experts said they found reasonable grounds to believe U.S. forces were responsible for an attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in the city of Minab, where more than 150 people were killed, including around 120 children, according to Iranian officials.

The attack constituted an indiscriminate attack causing civilian deaths and damage to civilian infrastructure, amounting to a war crime under international law, the mission concluded.

According to the report, the United States failure to update information in

On Sept. 16, the Houthis said they shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet.

PROVIDED BY HOUTHI MILITARY MEDIA VIA REUTERS