Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
US airstrikes in Iran have resulted in civilian casualties, including attacks on a school that killed over 160 children, as well as strikes on a residential home and a wedding celebration where families, including women and children from marginalized minority communities, were killed or injured, according to a United Nations fact-finding mission chaired by Sara Hossain.
The mission, appointed by the Human Rights Council, expressed concerns that repeated airstrikes causing civilian casualties raise serious questions about compliance with international law, including obligations to take all necessary precautions to avoid civilian deaths. Failure to observe these obligations may lead to international responsibility, including for war crimes.
The mission urged all parties involved in the regional conflict to strictly adhere to international law, cease hostilities, and allow full access for human rights monitors and investigators to gather evidence for accountability.
In Yemen, escalating fighting between Saudi-backed authorities and the Iran-backed Houthi militia has displaced at least 80,000 people, many multiple times, according to UNHCR. Millions in Yemen require urgent humanitarian assistance amid intensified conflict, which includes Houthi fighters seizing islands in the Red Sea.
UN agencies stress the importance of protecting civilians and ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those in need, while also calling for immediate diplomatic efforts to halt military conflicts and de-escalate tensions through credible dialogue on peace, human rights, and justice.