Donald Trump faces accusations of targeting Iran's water supplies in what critics describe as a desperate attempt to end the war, prompting claims of war crimes. The US strikes, which included Tomahawk missiles, reportedly hit two water reservoirs in Hormozgan province, affecting tens of thousands of civilians already suffering from drought.
Escalation Amid Peace Efforts
Efforts to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding to end the US-Iran war have been complicated by Hezbollah's threat to Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes including that conflict in any settlement, while Tehran insists on protecting its proxy. The shooting down of a US Apache helicopter and subsequent massive US strikes further dim prospects for peace.
As many as 49 Tomahawk missiles, costing £147 million, were fired from the US fleet in the Gulf, targeting communications and radar facilities. However, Iranian reports indicate that two concrete water storage reservoirs in the Bamani district of Sirik were also hit, signaling a potential shift in US strategy.
Impact on Civilians
Strikes on water infrastructure will dramatically affect tens of thousands of civilians in a country already facing severe water shortages due to drought and agricultural use. If deliberate, these strikes serve as both a warning and leverage against Tehran, which has previously targeted desalination plants in the region, including one in Kuwait in April.
The US appears to be seeking new ways to pressure Iran into a deal, but targeting water supplies risks violating international humanitarian law. Water installations are protected as civilian objects indispensable to survival, and attacks on them can constitute war crimes.
Legal and Moral Implications
Under international humanitarian law, desalination plants and water reservoirs are civilian objects with heightened protection. The law requires all feasible precautions to avoid harming civilians and civilian objects. The International Committee of the Red Cross emphasizes that water is indispensable for survival and grants it special protection.
Critics note that Trump has repeatedly shown disregard for international law, and his desperation may lead to further targeting of water facilities. The bombing of an Iranian school earlier in the war, which killed 150 people mostly children, has not been addressed.
As the conflict continues, the US may escalate attacks on water infrastructure, making it harder to deny deliberate targeting. Such actions, if confirmed, would represent a dangerous escalation and potential war crimes.
