Key facts
- Two water storage facilities in southern Iran were damaged by military strikes on June 10.
- Experts suggest the strikes could be a war crime if water infrastructure was intentionally targeted.
- US Central Command is investigating the incident.
- The damaged facilities served a district of about 20,000 people.
- The strikes occurred amid a severe drought in Iran.
- US military targeting protocols require assessing targets as lawful military objectives and ensuring civilian harm is not excessive.
Military strikes that damaged two water storage facilities in southern Iran on June 10 may constitute a war crime, according to military and legal experts reviewing media reports and visual evidence. The incident occurred in Bemani, a district near the Strait of Hormuz.
It remains unclear if the water tanks were deliberately targeted or if the destruction was unintentional. Brian Finucane, a former State Department lawyer, emphasized that attacking a civilian object is a war crime, while attacking a lawful military objective is permissible.
Iran's state broadcaster reported that the US military carried out the strikes. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command (Centcom), stated that they are aware of the reports and are investigating.
These strikes could be part of an escalating effort to pressure Iran into accepting a deal on US terms, potentially breaching a ceasefire agreement. President Donald Trump has previously warned Iran about stalling negotiations and stated that Iran would "pay the price."
The destruction of the water facilities occurred shortly after Centcom announced strikes on Iranian air defense and radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz. The White House declined to comment on the Bemani strikes, referring inquiries to Centcom.
The attack on Iran's water infrastructure is particularly concerning given the country is experiencing a historic drought and a severe water crisis. Ali Vaez, an Iran expert at the International Crisis Group, warned that further disruptions could be catastrophic for the population.
Senator Tim Kaine raised concerns about the potential consequences of targeting crucial water infrastructure, especially during the summer heat. He also expressed worry about the role of artificial intelligence in target selection, citing the risk of egregious mistakes without adequate human oversight.
Photos of munition fragments posted by Iran's semi-official news agency were identified by former US army technician Trevor Ball as pieces of a GBU-39 bomb, a precision-guided munition often sold to US allies. Ball described the facility as remote, making accidental direct hits on two buildings unlikely if they were not the intended targets.
Several military analysts and Iran experts noted that a deliberate strike on water infrastructure would be unprecedented for the US. Former officials with experience in military targeting, including Wes Bryant and Brian Finucane, stated that such actions have not been part of past campaigns and that evaluating the legality of targets is critical.
Congress voted on June 3 to constrain President Trump's power to continue the conflict in Iran, with four Republican votes in favor of a resolution. Senator Kaine indicated he plans to bring a war powers resolution to the Senate in response to the latest strikes and will demand answers from the Pentagon. He suggested that intentional targeting of water facilities could affect Republican support for the conflict.