HRANA – Human Rights Activists in Iran has issued a statement strongly condemning the ongoing conflict between the United States–Israel and Iran, as civilian casualties continue to rise at an alarming rate, with increasing reports of harm to children, medical facilities, and civilian infrastructure. Read the statement below:

Washington D.C – Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) Condemns in the Strongest Terms the Ongoing Conflict Between the United States–Israel and Iran, which has resulted in a Tragic Increase in Civilian Casualties, Including Children, Cultural Heritage Sites, and Critical Civilian Infrastructure.

As of today, March 3, 2026, HRA has documented 912 civilian fatalities and 211 civilian injuries as a result of this conflict. Among those killed, at least 181 were children under the age of ten. An additional 880 reported deaths are currently under review for classification and verification. These figures reflect a devastating and escalating human toll and represent absolute minimums.

The protection of civilians is not optional. It is a binding legal obligation.

Under international humanitarian law, all parties to hostilities are obligated at all times to distinguish between civilians and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives. They must adhere to the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution, which are binding and non-negotiable standards designed to protect human life.

HRA has verified credible reports of attacks on at least seven medical centers and emergency health facilities. Hospitals, medical personnel, and health infrastructure are afforded specific and heightened protection under international humanitarian law. Attacks against them constitute serious violations of the laws of armed conflict. Damage to these facilities and the resulting disruption of healthcare delivery compound civilian suffering and breach fundamental legal protections.

HRA condemns any action that endangers protected civilian sites, even where they are not directly targeted. Incidental damage to hospitals, schools, residential areas, and essential infrastructure can constitute violations of international humanitarian law when parties fail to take all feasible precautions. The disruption of essential services further deepens civilian harm and undermines core legal safeguards.

HRA calls on all parties to immediately cease attacks on civilian infrastructure, particularly hospitals, schools, and residential areas, to ensure the protection of children and other non-combatants, and to comply fully and without exception with their obligations under international humanitarian law.

In addition to its humanitarian obligations, Iran remains bound by international human rights law. As US-Israeli strikes on Iran continue, Iranian authorities must ensure that civilians have access to information, communication, and emergency services. The continued restriction or shutdown of internet access during hostilities severely impedes civilians’ ability to obtain life-saving information, contact family members, access medical assistance, and document violations.

Connectivity in conflict can be the difference between life and death. Iranian authorities must immediately restore full internet access and guarantee that civilians can communicate freely and safely.

As one university student put it to HRA, “Ordinary people always pay the price for political decisions. We’re not at the negotiating table, and we’re not in the war rooms. But when missiles hit, it’s our homes that shake.” 

Armed conflict brings profound destruction and suffering to civilians and deepens humanitarian crises. HRA calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a renewed commitment to a peaceful resolution grounded in international law. The continued loss of civilian life, including that of children, underscores the urgent need to prioritize the protection of human life above all else.