Legal Experts Allege Violations
Over 100 US-based international law scholars have signed an open letter alleging that the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran may violate the UN Charter and amount to war crimes, according to Al Jazeera and BBC.
More than 100 international law experts based in the United States have signed an open letter published on the legal analysis platform Just Security, arguing that the ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran potentially violate the United Nations Charter and may constitute war crimes, according to reports by Al Jazeera and BBC on April 3, 2026.
Key Allegations in the Letter
The open letter raised concerns across several areas, according to Al Jazeera:
- Legality of the decision to go to war — The signatories questioned whether the military campaign meets the legal thresholds required under the UN Charter for the use of force.
- Conduct of hostilities — The letter cited attacks on civilian infrastructure including hospitals, water treatment plants, and energy facilities as potential violations of international humanitarian law.
- Threatening rhetoric — Statements by US officials were described as inconsistent with obligations under the laws of armed conflict.
- Dismantling of civilian protections — The letter specifically criticized what it described as US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s “gloves off” approach to rules of engagement, according to Al Jazeera.
The letter highlighted the strike on a primary school in Minab on Day 1 of the war (February 28), which reportedly killed more than 175 people, most of them children, as a particular point of concern, Al Jazeera reported.
Prominent Signatories
The open letter was co-authored by several prominent figures in international law, according to Al Jazeera:
- Oona Hathaway — Professor of International Law, Yale Law School
- Harold Koh — Former US State Department Legal Adviser, Yale Law School
- Philip Alston — Professor of Law, New York University; former UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty
- Kenneth Roth — Former Executive Director of Human Rights Watch
Official Rhetoric Under Scrutiny
The letter specifically condemned remarks attributed to US officials. According to Al Jazeera, the signatories took issue with President Trump’s reported comment about conducting “strikes just for fun” and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s characterization of rules of engagement as “stupid rules of engagement.”
The experts argued that such statements, combined with the pattern of strikes on civilian targets, suggest a disregard for the principles of distinction and proportionality that are central to the laws of armed conflict, Al Jazeera reported.
Cost of the War
The open letter also addressed the financial burden of the conflict, estimating that the war costs US taxpayers up to $2 billion per day, according to Al Jazeera. The signatories argued that the scale of expenditure, combined with questions about the legal basis for the campaign, warranted immediate Congressional scrutiny.
White House Response
The BBC reported that the White House responded to the open letter by stating that the military campaign is “making the region safer.” No further detailed rebuttal of the legal arguments was provided in the initial response, according to BBC.
Background
The US-Israeli military campaign against Iran began on February 28, 2026, and is now in its 35th day. The conflict has drawn widespread international attention, with humanitarian organizations, legal scholars, and several governments raising concerns about the conduct of hostilities and the impact on Iranian civilians.
The open letter on Just Security adds to a growing body of legal opinion questioning the legitimacy and conduct of the war. Whether the allegations gain traction in US domestic politics or international legal proceedings remains to be seen.