US strikes Iran, damaging water infrastructure amid severe drought

US forces launched a series of airstrikes targeting various locations in Iran, including Sirik, Jask, Minab, Qeshm Island, and Bandar Abbas. These attacks, described by the US military as "self-defense and a commensurate response" to a downed Apache helicopter, escalated tensions between the two nations despite a temporary ceasefire in April.

While the US military claimed to target only radar and communication facilities, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported damage to these sites. However, the strikes had a more significant impact in the town of Sirik, where two regional water reservoirs were destroyed along with a telecommunications tower. Experts analyzing images from the scene suggest fragments found could belong to US GBU-39 guided bombs, designed for high precision.

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The attacks on water reservoirs are a war crime.

This destruction of water infrastructure is particularly alarming given Iran's ongoing, severe drought. The damage to the reservoirs has left over 20,000 residents in Kouhestak city and surrounding villages without access to safe drinking water. Temperatures in the region fluctuate between 45-50 degrees Celsius, exacerbating the already difficult living conditions. Initial estimates place the damage cost between $780,000 and $830,000.

Iran's water industry spokesperson, Isa Bozorgzadeh, condemned the attacks on the water facilities as a "war crime." The New York Times noted that intentionally targeting civilian water infrastructure could constitute a war crime under international law. The incident raises serious questions about the US military's targeting protocols and the potential consequences of strikes during a critical water shortage.

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US must respond.