TEHRAN - The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) and the National Committee for Humanitarian Law (NCHL) have condemned the US-Israeli attacks on the country’s civilian infrastructure.

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the IRCS and the NCHL warned about the Israeli attacks on civilian critical infrastructure carried out with the support ?of the United States, calling for the unconditional observance of the ?principles of international humanitarian law.?
 
“At least eight railways and 59 airports, as well as public facilities, connecting roads, bridges, and transportation networks, have been targeted in the recent attacks,” noted the statement.

“Furthermore, power substations, nuclear power plants, and petrochemical facilities have also been targeted, causing serious disruption to the supply of energy, vital services, and the basic needs of the population, and resulting in widespread and longterm consequences for the lives, health, and security of civilians.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society and the National Committee for Humanitarian Law emphasize that according to the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, especially the principle of distinction, any attack on civilian property and infrastructure is prohibited, and those responsible are accountable for serious violations of international obligations. 

Targeting infrastructure that serves a predominantly civilian function constitutes a clear breach of these principles.

The IRCS and the NCHL call on international institutions such as the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to conduct prompt, and independent investigations and documentation of the attacks, strengthen oversight of compliance with international humanitarian law, use all legal and diplomatic avenues to halt these attacks, and provide the necessary grounds for accountability and prosecution of those responsible for these violations.”

The statement also emphasized that ensuring safe and rapid access to humanitarian assistance and protecting vital infrastructure constitute fundamental responsibilities of the international community, and that any disruption in this regard will have irreparable humanitarian consequences.

It stressed the necessity of safeguarding the lives, dignity, and security of civilians under all circumstances and underscored that violations of these principles must not go unanswered.
Targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure on such a scale can, according to credible legal sources, constitute clear violations of international humanitarian law. Under the Geneva Conventions and customary international humanitarian law, civilian locations, including schools and universities, are generally protected from attacks.

The strike on the Pasteur Institute of Tehran, a research and public health center with over a century of history and a member of the international Pasteur network is a prime example of targeting scientific institutions as part of modern warfare. Established in the 1920s, the institute has been a regional pioneer in vaccine production and has played a key role in controlling deadly diseases, particularly plague originating from wildlife in the region.

In the context of modern warfare, destroying such institutions constitutes an attack on the human capital of the future. Education, research, and technology production form a continuous cycle of national development, and targeting universities, especially those engaged in research related to defense, energy, and strategic technologies is, in effect, an effort to dismantle national scientific infrastructure and knowledge production.