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Iran targeted civilians as tactic of war, new report pushes IRGC accountability

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Interview Named sources Context piece
  • A new report by the Jerusalem Institute of Justice (JIJ) alleges Iran systematically targeted civilian populations as a military tactic during a recent conflict.
  • The report, "Indiscriminate fire: The legal case against Iran’s 2026 missile campaign," claims Iran used a strategy of exhausting Israel's air defenses, knowing many missiles would hit populated areas.
  • Adv. Uri Morad, director of international law and public diplomacy at JIJ, stated that Iran's use of cluster munitions further violated international humanitarian law by failing to distinguish between combatants and civilians.

Iran deliberately targeted civilian populations as a military strategy during a recent conflict, according to a new report by the Jerusalem Institute of Justice (JIJ). Adv. Uri Morad, an international law attorney and director at JIJ, stated that the Islamic Republic's actions during the conflict from late February to early April constituted a breach of international humanitarian law.

What the Jerusalem Institute of Justice legal team found is that Iran’s breach of international humanitarian law, and mainly customary international law, throughout the latest round was systematic.

— Adv. Uri MoradAdv. Uri Morad, director of international law and public diplomacy at the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, described the findings of the JIJ report.

"What the Jerusalem Institute of Justice legal team found is that Iran’s breach of international humanitarian law, and mainly customary international law, throughout the latest round was systematic," Morad told The Jerusalem Post. "It came from the senior commanders of the IRGC targeting civilians in densely populated areas. And that was a tactic of war, not accidental."

It came from the senior commanders of the IRGC targeting civilians in densely populated areas. And that was a tactic of war, not accidental.

— Adv. Uri MoradAdv. Uri Morad elaborated on the systematic nature of Iran's alleged targeting of civilians.

The JIJ report, titled “Indiscriminate fire: The legal case against Iran’s 2026 missile campaign,” details how Tehran’s missile and drone campaign aimed to exhaust Israel’s air defenses. Morad explained that Iran understood that firing thousands of missiles would inevitably lead to a significant percentage falling within densely populated areas. "Approximately 15 to 20% of the missiles will fall within densely populated areas. And that's what they did," he said.

Israel's air defense system is one of the most advanced air defense systems in the world, but it's not perfect.

— Adv. Uri MoradAdv. Uri Morad explained Iran's strategy of targeting air defenses.

Morad also highlighted Iran's use of cluster munitions, which scatter submunitions over a wide area. He stated that the nature of these weapons, as used by the IRGC, does not allow for specific targeting of areas clear of civilians. "The IRGC leadership knew that collateral damage would be extensive. That is forbidden according to international law, and that is forbidden according to international customary law," Morad asserted. The report aims to push for accountability for Iran's alleged violations.

And approximately 15 to 20% of the missiles will fall within densely populated areas. And that's what they did.

— Adv. Uri MoradAdv. Uri Morad detailed the expected and actual impact of Iran's missile campaign.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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