The United States and Israel on February 28, 2026 carried out airstrikes on Iran, which retaliated with strikes against Israel and Gulf states. All parties to the conflict are obligated to respect international humanitarian law, also known as the laws of war, and prioritize the protection of civilians. Human Rights Watch is currently investigating strikes by all parties that may have violated the laws of war.
Human Rights Watch has previously documented laws-of-war violations by the United States, Israel, and Iran and serious failures to protect civilians in conflict.
Since January 2025, under the administration of President Donald Trump, the US Defense Department has fired top military lawyers without cause and systematically rolled back legal oversight and mechanisms to mitigate harm to civilians, placing fewer constraints on military operations.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has lifted restrictions on antipersonnel landmines and agreed to purchase cluster munitions - weapons inherently harmful to civilians - from Israel. The 2026 US National Defense Strategy omits civilian harm mitigation as an explicit policy consideration.
Human Rights Watch has documented serious abuses by Israel in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran. Israeli forces in Gaza since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel have committed numerous violations of the laws of war - including unlawful strikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure, indiscriminate attacks in densely populated areas, and actions amounting to collective punishment. In June 2025, an unlawful Israeli attack on Evin prison in Iran killed scores of prisoners and other civilians.
Iranian authorities previously have inadequately protected civilians during hostilities. In the June 2025 conflict with Israel, Iranian authorities shut down internet access and failed to take effective measures to protect civilian lives. Iran carried out indiscriminate ballistic missile attacks on Israel during that conflict.
To crush protests earlier this year, Iranian authorities arbitrarily detained thousands of people in prisons and unofficial detention facilities after security forces carried out massacres throughout the country. Detainees remain at risk of torture and secret and arbitrary executions. Iranian authorities should immediately release everyone arbitrarily detained and enforce domestic regulations that allow for prisoners' release during wartime for their safety.
Human Rights Watch will continue to monitor the situation in the region and urges all parties to respect international humanitarian and human rights law.
