Military strikes on water facilities in Iran may constitute a war crime, experts say

What Happened

On 10 June, airstrikes destroyed two water storage facilities in Bemani district, Iran, about 2 miles from the Strait of Hormuz, affecting approximately 20,000 people. Iran's state broadcaster attributed the strikes to the US military, but this remains unverified. US Central Command (Centcom) spokesperson Tim Hawkins said they were "aware of reports and looking into it." Munition fragments photographed at the site were identified by former US army technician Trevor Ball as pieces of a GBU-39 precision-guided bomb. US President Donald Trump boasted of hitting Iran hard and suggested a deal was imminent, but conflicting reports emerged on whether any agreement was reached. Legal and military experts, including former State Department lawyer Brian Finucane, stated that if the water tanks were deliberately targeted, it would constitute a war crime. Senator Tim Kaine described the strike on water infrastructure as "not a minor matter" and announced plans for a war powers resolution. The incident follows earlier US strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, which Centcom said targeted air defense and radar sites, and a previous attack on a girls' school in Minab that killed dozens of students.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The destruction of water infrastructure in Bemani—whether intentional or accidental—escalates the US-Iran standoff at a time of severe drought and water scarcity in Iran. Experts warn that deliberately targeting civilian water facilities would be a war crime, and the strike tests the fragile ceasefire and ongoing negotiations. It also fuels US domestic debate over presidential war powers, with Congress already having voted to constrain military action against Iran. The humanitarian impact could be acute, compounding Iran's internal water crisis.

Watch For

The outcome of Centcom's investigation into the Bemani strike, any further US military actions in Iran, clarification on the status of the ceasefire deal, and Senator Kaine's war powers resolution in the Senate. Monitor the humanitarian situation in Bemani and any retaliatory steps by Iran or allied groups.