UN fact-finding mission says US strikes on Iranian school, sports facility likely war crimes

The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran reported to the UN Human Rights Council that it found reasonable grounds to believe US forces committed war crimes in February strikes on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab and a sports facility in Lamerd, killing roughly 120 schoolchildren among more than 150 dead. The mission said the US relied on unverified intelligence about a commander's presence and found no evidence the school was used for military purposes. The same report found Iran's crackdown on December protests included crimes against humanity, citing unlawful killings, torture and arbitrary detention.

Why this matters. The findings could be used to press for International Criminal Court referrals or targeted sanctions against US commanders, and give Tehran a legal cudgel to resist future US pressure on its nuclear program.