The United Nations independent fact-finding mission has released a damning report that points to probable war crimes committed by the United States during its February air campaign against Iran. The document, prepared for the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, indicates that at least 177 civilians – including more than a hundred children – were killed in two separate strikes on clearly civilian targets. At the same time, the mission accuses Iranian security forces of launching a sweeping crackdown on protests that may amount to crimes against humanity.
U.S. strikes on Minab school and Lamerd sports complex
On 28 February, two missiles entered Iranian airspace within minutes of each other. The first was a Tomahawk cruise missile that hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school in the southern port city of Minab. Local authorities confirmed 156 deaths, of which 120 were children. Video and satellite imagery captured before the attack show distinctive school murals, signage and a playground, confirming the building’s civilian purpose. Survivors reported that the roof collapsed twice, suggesting a direct, intentional impact rather than stray fire from a nearby military installation.
The second attack targeted a sports complex and adjacent residential blocks in Lamerd. Evidence points to the use of a Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) that dispersed tungsten pellets over the site, killing at least 21 people, including seven children. The complex was identifiable as a civilian recreational facility, with no indication of IRGC or other military presence. The mission notes that the United States is the only party in the conflict possessing both Tomahawk and PrSM systems, reinforcing the inference of U.S. responsibility.
The UN experts argue that the strikes failed the basic legal requirement to verify a target’s military nature, a cornerstone of the law of armed conflict. They conclude that the United States “launched indiscriminate attacks resulting in loss of civilian life and damage to civilian objects,” a definition that meets the criteria for a war crime under international law. The U.S. government has neither published the results of its internal inquiry nor publicly accepted the findings, maintaining that it “never targets civilians.”
Iranian crackdown on anti-government protests
Parallel to the external conflict, Iran endured an unprecedented wave of internal unrest that began in late December 2025. The UN mission documented a systematic campaign of lethal force across all 31 provinces, describing the scale as “staggering and unprecedented.” Witnesses, health workers and families of victims recounted security personnel firing from rooftops, using assault rifles, shotgun pellets, and even live ammunition against demonstrators. Injuries included permanent blindness and severe trauma to heads, chests and eyes.
Security forces also assaulted medical facilities, beating and detaining injured protesters, which discouraged many from seeking urgent care. Tens of thousands of detainees reportedly faced torture, solitary confinement and denial of legal counsel. The investigation highlights an accelerated use of the death penalty, with at least 29 executions following expedited trials linked to protest-related charges. While Tehran cites a death toll of roughly 3,000, the UN team believes the real figure is considerably higher, aligning with independent reports estimating over 7,000 casualties.
Both sets of findings underscore a dire humanitarian situation: civilians are trapped between a government that employs widespread repression and a foreign military action that appears to have disregarded civilian protection. The UN mission urges an immediate cessation of hostilities, full accountability for the alleged crimes, and reparations for victims.
