International Law | Legal Aftermath of the Israel-Iran War

Berlin. Iran also used banned cluster munitions in its missile attacks during the war with Israel. This is the conclusion of a report by the human rights organization Amnesty International. "Cluster munitions are inherently indiscriminate weapons that should never be used," says Theresa Bergmann, Iran expert at Amnesty International in Germany. By using them in residential areas, the Iranian army would have endangered the lives of civilians and thus "clearly violated the principles of distinction and proportionality under international humanitarian law," she continues.

The report is based on an examination of photos and videos. According to media reports, cluster munition rockets hit the Gush Dan area around Tel Aviv on June 19, Beer Sheva in southern Israel on June 20, and Rishon LeZion south of Tel Aviv on June 21. The rockets left multiple impact craters. Cluster munitions reportedly hit a school and a basketball court in Beer Sheva.

Amnesty wants to investigate attack on Ewin prison

Israel launched a war against Iran on June 13, attacking targets across the country, including nuclear facilities. Iran's armed forces responded with missile attacks. A little over a week after the war began, the United States intervened in the conflict. After twelve days of war, a ceasefire was surprisingly announced .

Iranian missile fire killed 29 people in Israel; Israeli airstrikes in Iran claimed more than 1,000 lives. Human rights activists criticized the way both countries conducted the war: In Iran, for example, nuclear scientists were targeted , and civilian facilities such as the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran were bombed. Amnesty International wants the attack investigated as a possible war crime. "Under international humanitarian law, a prison is considered a civilian object, and there is no credible evidence in this case that Evin Prison constituted a legitimate military target," a report said. csa