Iran, Lebanon and the wider Middle East Crisis

On 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran, killing the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with other senior figures and targets across the country.

In response, Iran launched retaliatory attacks across the region and imposed an internet blackout within Iran.

Military operations have now affected multiple countries in the Middle East, including Iran, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lebanon, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Amnesty is urging all parties to end the suffering of civilians. This has primarily been a war against civilians and civilians' infrastructures.

Amnesty International considers the US-Israel attack against Iran to be unlawful and in violation of the UN Charter, which forbids the use of force when not in self-defence or when authorised by the UN Security Council.

Amnesty also considers Iran's retaliation as unlawful since many of the attacks against Gulf countries appear to be directed at civilian infrastructure, are indiscriminate and disproportionate.

Our top priority is the urgent need to protect civilians and for all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.

Amnesty International is continuing to investigate the attacks in Iran, Lebanon, Israel and across the Gulf States to assess the full impact on civilians and document any evidence of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, regardless of who is responsible for the actions.

Our ability to gather and verify information from Iran has been severely impacted by the internet blackout imposed by the Iranian authorities on 28 February 2026, and the Iranian authorities' refusal to allow human rights monitors into the country.

Amnesty International will continue to step up its advocacy and campaigning to urge all parties and other countries to take concrete measures to protect civilians and uphold international law.

• Publicly demand an immediate and sustained ceasefire by all parties, without exception.
• Immediately suspend all arms transfers where there is a significant risk the weapons could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international human rights or humanitarian law.
• Refuse the use of UK airbases and airspace for military operations that may also contribute to such violations.
• The UK needs to work proactively with partners regionally and around the world to strengthen diplomacy, calling out violations and those responsible for them.
• They should use their universal jurisdiction and other extraterritorial powers to:
  • Open criminal investigations against the Iranian officials allegedly responsible for crimes under international law, issuing arrest warrants where evidence permits.
  • Open structural investigations into the repression of protests in Iran, especially when suspects or victims may be in the country, to uncover who ordered and carried out the abuses.
  • Establish joint investigation teams with other states and justice mechanisms to look into crimes against humanity, including those linked to repeated nationwide protests.
• The UK must press Iranian authorities to cooperate with international accountability efforts, including granting access to UN experts from the Fact‑Finding Mission and the UN Special Rapporteur.
• Protect access to information and freedom of expression, including by ensuring the immediate restoration of internet access across Iran.
• Ensure all statements and policies unequivocally oppose Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, including plans for civilian‑free buffer zones, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the forced displacement of civilians.
• Encourage Lebanon to engage with the ICC to investigate crimes committed on its territory since October 2023.