U.S. Military Accountability Tracker

Major Documented Incidents

Incidents investigated by international human rights organizations and verified journalists

28 FEB 2026

Investigated as war crime Mass civilian casualties

Minab Girls' School Attack (Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary)

A U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile struck a girls' elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, during school hours. At least 165–175 people were killed, most of them girls aged 7–12. Amnesty International's investigation found the strike was a "triple-tap" — an initial bombing followed by two additional strikes. Fragments of a Tomahawk missile marked with U.S. defense contractor names and a Pentagon contract number were recovered at the site. Multiple investigations (NYT, BBC Verify, Bellingcat, Amnesty, HRW) concluded the U.S. was responsible. A Pentagon preliminary investigation also reportedly pointed to U.S. responsibility, citing outdated targeting coordinates from the Defense Intelligence Agency. The school was adjacent to, but physically separated from, an IRGC compound since at least 2016. The Trump administration had previously cut 90% of Pentagon civilian casualty mitigation teams.

Amnesty International Human Rights Watch NPR Wikipedia

7 MAR 2026

IHL violation alleged Civilian infrastructure

Qeshm Island Desalination Plant Attack

Iran accused the United States of striking a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting water supplies to 30 villages. The U.N. University Institute for Water described such attacks as "absolutely a war crime to attack infrastructure that civilians are so dependent on." The Geneva Conventions explicitly prohibit attacks on drinking water installations as objects indispensable to the survival of civilian populations. The U.S. and Israel denied responsibility. The incident triggered retaliatory Iranian strikes on a Bahraini desalination plant.

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Wikipedia Al Jazeera

28 FEB 2026 – ONGOING

Constitutional violation

War Initiated Without Congressional Authorization

The U.S. launched Operation Epic Fury — a large-scale military campaign involving 40,000+ troops, carrier strike groups, and B-2 bombers — without a congressional declaration of war or Authorization for Use of Military Force. Over 100 international law experts signed a letter stating the war violated the UN Charter. The ACLU described it as an "unconstitutional war." The Brennan Center for Justice noted there was no unforeseen threat or imminent attack by Iran. The Senate voted on a War Powers Resolution but Republican opposition blocked it. Trump described the operations as "major combat operations" on Feb. 28 but the White House has avoided calling them a "war."

Brennan Center ACLU FactCheck.org CNN Common Dreams (Just Security letter)

28 FEB 2026 – ONGOING

Mass civilian casualties IHL concerns

Widespread Strikes on Civilian Areas Across Iran

U.S. and Israeli strikes have hit civilian infrastructure across Iran including 66+ schools, residential buildings, and civilian areas. HRANA documented 3,114 deaths in Iran by March 17, including 1,354 confirmed civilians and 244+ children. Additional schools have been struck throughout the conflict — reports indicate at least four schools were hit in a single six-day span. The head of Iran's Ministry of Education said students were killed in several schools. In Abyek, Qazvin province, a schoolboy was killed in a playground by shrapnel from a nearby strike, captured on CCTV. Amnesty International called for investigations into the pattern of strikes near civilian objects.

Al Jazeera (live tracker) Amnesty International Wikipedia

30 MAR – 5 APR 2026

Threatened IHL violation Collective punishment threat

Trump Threatens to Destroy Iran's Civilian Water and Power Infrastructure

President Trump publicly threatened to "blow up and completely obliterate" Iran's electric generating plants, desalination facilities, bridges, and oil infrastructure if a deal is not reached. On April 5, he threatened "Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day" by Tuesday and U.S. airstrikes struck a bridge in Karaj. International law experts, including the Center for Civilians in Conflict, described the threats as potential war crimes and collective punishment prohibited under the Geneva Conventions. CNN reported multiple Gulf countries privately warned the Trump administration against such strikes. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights warned that Iranian civilians would suffer catastrophically.

Al Jazeera CNN TIME NPR

APR 2026

Casualty cover-up alleged

Pentagon Accused of Covering Up U.S. Casualty Numbers

The Intercept reported that CENTCOM has been providing outdated and lowball casualty figures, constituting what a defense official called a "casualty cover-up." Almost 750 U.S. troops have been wounded or killed in the Middle East since October 2023 according to The Intercept's analysis, though the Pentagon does not acknowledge that figure. The administration has simultaneously downplayed the scale of the conflict while escalating it.

The Intercept

Legal Analysis & Expert Assessments

What international law experts and human rights organizations have said

On the Minab School Strike

Human Rights Watch called for the attack to be investigated as a war crime, noting that the U.S. had a duty to verify its targeting intelligence and take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm. Amnesty International found the school was struck with precision-guided munitions and that the U.S. appeared to have relied on outdated intelligence — a violation of the duty to verify military objectives. A Yale law professor noted, however, that an honest mistake might not necessarily constitute a war crime if there was not reckless disregard for civilian life.

— HRW (Mar 7), Amnesty International (Mar 16), Prof. Oona Hathaway (Yale)

On the War's Legality Under U.S. and International Law

Over 100 international law experts signed a letter stating the initiation of the war was a "clear violation of the United Nations Charter." The Brennan Center for Justice noted there was no imminent threat or unforeseen attack. The ACLU described it as an "unconstitutional war" launched without congressional authorization. Multiple constitutional law scholars across the political spectrum, including libertarian scholars at the Cato Institute, agreed that the conflict is obviously a war requiring congressional approval.

— Just Security letter (Apr 2), Brennan Center (Mar 2), ACLU (Mar 5), FactCheck.org (Mar 3)

On Threats to Civilian Infrastructure

International law expert Gabor Rona told NPR that Trump's threats to target power and desalination plants constitute threats to commit war crimes under both international and U.S. law. The Geneva Conventions explicitly prohibit attacks on objects indispensable to civilian survival, including water and power installations. The Center for Civilians in Conflict described the threats as "appalling" and warned of devastating impacts on hospitals, water access, and communications.

— NPR (Apr 3), CNN (Apr 1), Geneva Conventions Protocol I, Art. 54

On Dismantling Civilian Protection Safeguards

The Pentagon's Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response (CHMR) program was cut by approximately 90% under Secretary Hegseth, leaving CENTCOM with reportedly one staffer for civilian casualty mitigation. ProPublica documented how the initiative was gutted even as strikes escalated. A former Pentagon civilian protection expert warned the approach represents a departure from norms established since World War II, with "zero accountability."

— ProPublica (Mar 12), NPR, Wes J. Bryant (former CHMR official)

Civilian Infrastructure Targeting

Documented or alleged strikes on civilian objects and infrastructure

DOCUMENTED

IHL concern

Schools

Iran's Ministry of Education reported at least 66 schools damaged or destroyed with student fatalities in several. The Minab elementary school was the deadliest single attack, but additional school strikes have been documented throughout the campaign. At least four schools were reportedly hit in a six-day span. These attacks have been condemned by UNESCO and the UN Human Rights Office.

DOCUMENTED / DENIED BY U.S.

IHL concern

Water Infrastructure

Iran accused the U.S. of striking a desalination plant on Qeshm Island (Mar 7), cutting water to 30 villages. The U.S. denied responsibility. Trump subsequently explicitly threatened to destroy all Iranian desalination plants (Mar 30), which would affect millions. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists warned of severe humanitarian consequences. The attack on water infrastructure has triggered tit-for-tat attacks on desalination plants in Bahrain and Kuwait.

MARCH–APRIL 2026

Civilian impact

Bridges, Power, Energy Facilities

U.S. strikes have hit bridges (including one in Karaj struck Apr 3), oil depots across Tehran and Alborz province, and the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant — Iran's only operational civilian nuclear facility. Israel struck Iran's South Pars gas field. A petrochemical plant supplying electricity to 500,000 people in Khuzestan Province was also targeted. Iranian officials and some international commentators note these strikes affect civilian populations far beyond any military targets.

28 FEB 2026 – ONGOING

Civilian impact

Residential Buildings

Al Jazeera and other outlets have documented U.S. and Israeli strikes hitting residential buildings across Iran, including in Fardis (west of Tehran) where a damaged building bore a sign reading "We stand till the end." The full scale of residential damage is difficult to independently verify due to Iran's near-total internet shutdown, which has been in effect since Feb 28.

Systemic & Structural Concerns

Patterns and institutional failures that increase civilian harm

90% Reduction in Civilian Harm Mitigation

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth cut the Pentagon's Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response (CHMR) program by roughly 90%. CENTCOM was reportedly left with one staffer for civilian casualty mitigation operations — during the largest U.S. military engagement since the 2003 Iraq invasion. Military commands have been paying out of their own budgets for analysts to do work that was previously centrally planned. Hegseth has publicly criticized "stupid rules of engagement" and reoriented the military around "lethality" and "warrior ethos."

ProPublica NPR

Termination of Senior Military Lawyers & Loosened Targeting

Human Rights Watch expressed concern that the Trump administration has "deliberately and systematically weakened" Pentagon protections meant to ensure compliance with the laws of armed conflict. This included the reported termination of senior military lawyers, loosening of targeting protocols, and removal of Pentagon officials responsible for civilian protection. Multiple generals have been dismissed, including the Army Chief of Staff.

Human Rights Watch

Internet Blackout Preventing Independent Documentation

Iran imposed a near-total internet blackout starting Feb 28, with traffic dropping 98% according to Cloudflare Radar. This has prevented independent verification of civilian casualties, obstructed humanitarian communication, and blocked documentation of potential violations by all parties. Amnesty and HRW have both noted that their investigations were hampered by inability to contact witnesses directly. This means the documented toll almost certainly undercounts the actual civilian impact.

Conflict Timeline

Key events in the 2025–2026 U.S. military campaign

JUN 2025

Operation Midnight Hammer — U.S. and Israel strike Iranian nuclear facilities in a 37-hour campaign. Trump files a War Powers report.

JAN 2026

Iranian protests and crackdown — Massive anti-government protests erupt. Iranian security forces kill thousands. Trump threatens military action. U.S. begins largest military buildup in the Middle East since 2003.

24 FEB 2026

State of the Union — Trump barely mentions Iran despite imminent military action.

28 FEB 2026

Operation Epic Fury begins — U.S. and Israel launch surprise strikes across Iran. Supreme Leader Khamenei killed. Minab school struck. Over 100 civilian casualties on Day 1. No congressional authorization. Iran retaliates against U.S. bases, closes Strait of Hormuz.

1 MAR 2026

First U.S. casualties — Six Army reservists killed in Iranian drone strike on Kuwait port. Additional soldier killed at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia.

5–11 MAR 2026

Minab investigations begin — Reuters, NYT, NPR, BBC Verify, Bellingcat all independently identify the school strike as a U.S. Tomahawk missile. Pentagon opens 15-6 investigation.

7 MAR 2026

Qeshm desalination plant struck — Iran accuses U.S. of hitting civilian water infrastructure. U.S. denies. Triggers retaliatory strikes on Bahraini desalination plant.

16 MAR 2026

Amnesty publishes investigation — Finds U.S. violated international humanitarian law in school strike. Documents "triple-tap" pattern and Tomahawk fragments.

21–30 MAR 2026

Trump threatens civilian infrastructure — Issues ultimatums to reopen Strait of Hormuz, threatens to destroy power plants, desalination facilities, bridges, and oil infrastructure. Legal experts call this collective punishment.

1 APR 2026

Intercept reports "casualty cover-up" — Pentagon providing outdated and lowball casualty figures. Actual toll estimated at 750+ U.S. killed/wounded since Oct 2023.

2 APR 2026

100+ legal scholars condemn war — Just Security publishes letter calling war a "clear violation of the UN Charter" and conduct potentially constituting war crimes.

3 APR 2026

U.S. strikes bridge in Karaj — Civilian bridge targeted. Iranian foreign minister says attacking bridges and unfinished infrastructure will not force surrender.

5 APR 2026

Trump threatens "Power Plant Day" — Issues new ultimatum for Tuesday, threatening to destroy all Iranian power plants and bridges. Conflict at Day 36 with no ceasefire or exit strategy.

Methodology & Editorial Standards

This tracker documents credible allegations of international humanitarian law (IHL) violations, constitutional concerns, and patterns of civilian harm during U.S. military operations in 2025–2026. It does not make independent legal determinations — only courts and tribunals can establish whether specific acts constitute war crimes.

Each entry is sourced from one or more of the following categories: investigations by international human rights organizations (Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International), U.N. bodies and experts, verified investigative journalism (NYT, NPR, BBC, Bellingcat, ProPublica, The Intercept), legal analysis by constitutional and international law scholars, and official government statements.

Where facts are disputed (such as the Qeshm Island desalination attack), both sides are noted. Casualty figures are attributed to their source and should be understood as estimates, especially given the internet blackout inside Iran that has hampered independent verification since February 28. This tracker covers U.S. actions specifically; Iranian, Israeli, and other parties' violations are documented by the same organizations linked here.

This is an independent civilian research project. It is not affiliated with any government, political party, or advocacy organization. Its purpose is to aggregate publicly available information from credible sources to support democratic accountability and informed public debate.

Note on "war crimes": This tracker uses terms like "alleged war crime," "investigated as war crime," and "IHL violation" based on the assessments of the cited organizations. A formal determination of war crimes requires adjudication by a competent court. The ICC, ICJ, and various national courts may ultimately make such determinations. This tracker documents the allegations and evidence as reported by credible sources.

Human Rights Watch Amnesty International ProPublica The Intercept NPR Brennan Center ACLU CFR Conflict Tracker WarCosts.org Al Jazeera