A UN fact-finding mission says two February US airstrikes on a school and a sports facility in Iran were indiscriminate attacks that killed civilians; it also accuses Tehran of crimes against humanity in its protest crackdown.
A United Nations–mandated fact-finding mission said on Thursday there are “reasonable grounds” to believe the United States committed war crimes during two airstrikes in Iran in late February, marking one of the most serious international legal allegations leveled against Washington since the start of the seven-month conflict.cbsnews+2
The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran said the strikes—one on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab and another on a sports complex in Lamerd—constituted indiscriminate attacks that caused civilian deaths and damage to civilian objects, violations that amount to war crimes under international humanitarian law.wsau+2
According to the mission’s findings, the Minab school strike killed more than 150 people, including around 120 children, based on figures cited from Iranian officials and independent reports compiled by the investigators. The Lamerd attack, which the report says dispersed tungsten pellets over a clearly identifiable sports facility and nearby residential area, killed at least 22 civilians and damaged homes and a school, the mission said.yahoo+5
The investigators noted that both sites were “clearly identifiable” as civilian objects and that there was no information indicating they were being used for military purposes at the time of the attacks, even though the Minab school was located near a Revolutionary Guard naval complex. On that basis, the mission concluded the US strikes violated the principle of distinction and proportionality, core rules designed to protect civilians during armed conflict.democrata+3
The report also accuses Iran’s own authorities of crimes against humanity in connection with the government’s deadly crackdown on anti-government protests, citing mass killings, torture, and arbitrary detentions on a “staggering” scale. Those findings will be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the mission said.reuters+3
President Donald Trump, asked about the conflict on Wednesday, said he hoped the war was “towards the end” and claimed Iranian officials had reached out directly to Washington seeking a deal, though he provided no details and Tehran has not confirmed such contact. Iranian officials had previously said they would not resume talks unless their conditions were met, underscoring the gap between Trump’s optimism and the diplomatic reality on the ground.independent.co+4
The White House and Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the UN mission’s allegations, according to multiple news outlets. The mission’s conclusions do not constitute a formal judicial finding, but they add significant pressure on Washington and could fuel calls for further UN action or independent investigations.reuters+2
KEY FACTS:
● UN investigators say there are “reasonable grounds” that the US committed war crimes in two February airstrikes in Iran, including on a primary school in Minab and a sports complex in Lamerd.cbsnews+2
● The mission estimates more than 150 people were killed in the Minab school strike, including around 120 children, and at least 22 civilians died in the Lamerd attack.yahoo+2
● The same UN report alleges Iranian authorities committed crimes against humanity during the crackdown on anti-government protests, citing mass killings, torture, and arbitrary detention.reuters+2
SOURCES:
● CBS News – “Iran War Updates: U.N. panel cites possible U.S. war crimes as Trump again says Iran wants a deal” – https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-war-us-trump-un-war-crimes-iran-deal/cbsnews
● Reuters – “UN mission finds grounds to believe US committed war crimes in Iran, and Tehran crimes against humanity” – https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-mission-finds-grounds-believe-us-committed-war-crimes-iran-tehran-crimes-2026-09-17/reuters+1
● NPR – “U.N.-backed experts cite possible U.S. war crimes in Iran, including a school attack” – https://www.npr.org/2026/09/17/nx-s1-5972934/us-iran-war-un-report-alleged-war-crimesnpr
● The Independent – “Iran war live: Trump’s forces may have committed war crime, says UN mission” – https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-us-war-live-trump-oil-saudi-houthis-news-b3050908.htmlindependent.co
● Al Jazeera – “Trump claims direct talks with Iran: Is diplomacy picking up again?” – https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/17/trump-claims-direct-talks-with-iran-is-diplomacy-picking-up-again
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