Washington: The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that it 'cannot guarantee' the safety of civilians located in or near facilities utilized by Iran for military operations. This warning highlights the potential for these sites to become 'legitimate military targets under international law.'
According to Anadolu Agency, Iranian authorities have been using heavily populated civilian areas to conduct military operations, including launching attack drones and ballistic missiles from cities like Dezful, Isfahan, and Shiraz. This practice, CENTCOM states, endangers civilians as these locations could lose their protected status and be targeted under international law.
CENTCOM has issued a safety advisory to Iranian civilians, urging them to stay at home and cautioning that Iranian authorities are 'knowingly endangering innocent lives.' The statement accuses Iranian forces of jeopardizing the safety of innocents throughout the Middle East by targeting civilian infrastructure, such as airports, hotels, and residential neighborhoods.
Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, criticized Iran's actions, stating that the regime is disregarding civilian lives by attacking Gulf partners and compromising the safety of its own people. Since February 28, Iran has launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and thousands of attack drones. However, the rate of these launches has significantly decreased due to the efforts of US and partner forces to diminish Iran's military capabilities.
CENTCOM emphasized that US forces strive to minimize harm to civilians and do not intentionally target them, unlike the Iranian regime. The regional tensions have escalated since a joint attack by Israel and the US on Iran resulted in significant casualties, including the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In response, Tehran launched missile and drone attacks against Israel, Iraq, Jordan, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.