Amid escalating regional hostilities following joint United States-Israel attacks on Iran and subsequent Iranian retaliatory strikes, Amnesty International has called on all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians and strictly adhere to international humanitarian law. The organization emphasizes the urgent need to halt unlawful attacks, including deliberate, indiscriminate, or disproportionate strikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Military operations have now spread across more than ten countries, resulting in significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction. Israel has intensified attacks on Lebanon in response to Hezbollah’s actions, while Iran has warned of further instability following the killing of its Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, highlighted that civilians should not bear the consequences of reckless military actions, stressing that their protection must be the top priority. She warned that unlawful attacks, including the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas, risk further devastating already vulnerable populations. Callamard also underscored the critical importance of compliance with international human rights and humanitarian law to prevent a catastrophic humanitarian and human rights crisis.
In Iran, the humanitarian toll has been severe. By 3 March, the Iranian Red Crescent Society reported 787 deaths, including 150 school children killed in a bombing in Minab, Hormozgan province. The UN condemned the attack on the school as a grave violation of humanitarian law. Iranian hospitals and medical centers have been damaged by attacks, and authorities have suppressed information by shutting down the internet, restricting public access to essential updates and violating rights of medical personnel and injured protesters. Concerns have intensified for prisoners and dissidents, with reports of torture, extrajudicial killings, and attacks near detention facilities. Iranian missile and drone attacks in Israel and the Gulf region have also caused civilian casualties and infrastructure damage, prompting condemnation from regional authorities.
In Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Iranian strikes have led to fatalities and property damage, while Israel has imposed severe restrictions on movement in the West Bank and Gaza. These measures have worsened humanitarian conditions, blocking essential aid and exacerbating the suffering of Palestinians under occupation.
The conflict has also escalated in Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes following Hezbollah rocket attacks have killed and injured hundreds, displacing thousands through mass evacuation orders. Israel has targeted Hezbollah-affiliated financial institutions, raising serious concerns under international humanitarian law regarding indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks.
Amnesty International continues to monitor the situation closely, urging all parties to protect civilians and infrastructure, allow safe humanitarian access, and enable independent international oversight. The organization calls on the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation, uphold global norms, and ensure accountability for violations of international law, emphasizing that failure to do so threatens both regional stability and the integrity of international human rights protections.
