Given the Israeli attacks across Iran unfolding on June 13, 2025, and as military escalation continues, Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) calls on all parties to uphold binding obligations under international humanitarian law (IHL). The intensification of hostilities, including cross-border missile and drone attacks, places Iranian civilians at grave and immediate risk.

International humanitarian law requires that all feasible precautions to protect civilians and objects are taken. This includes, at a minimum, compliance with the core principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.
All Parties Must Take Measures to Protect Civilians, Including:

Clearly identifying military targets and ensuring that attacks are not directed at civilians or civilian objects.
Issuing effective warnings to civilians in areas at risk, allowing time and opportunity for evacuation or shelter.
Avoiding attacks in densely populated areas, particularly where civilian harm is foreseeable.
Ensuring the protection of civilian infrastructure.

The recent incidents involving Israeli attacks on Iran underscore the urgency of the following questions:
Were military targets clearly identified and necessary?

Were civilians given adequate warning or evacuation options?
Was civilian infrastructure damaged or destroyed?

The answers to these questions are essential in assessing compliance with IHL.

Even when military objectives exist, the anticipated military advantage must be weighed against the expected harm to civilians. Any failure to take adequate precautions or to limit civilian harm may amount to a serious breach of international law.

HRA emphasizes that respect for IHL is not optional; it is a legal and moral obligation. As Israel has indicated forthcoming attacks, it must refrain from indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks and take active steps to shield civilians from the effects of hostilities. Any alternative action is a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

The protection of civilian life must remain a central concern. As the situation unfolds, HRA will continue to document incidents, assess patterns of harm, and advocate for accountability under international legal standards.