Source: Amnesty International –
- Four civilians killed and 12 injured in two strikes
- Iranian Shahed drones most likely used in attacks on civilian infrastructure
- Attacks violated international humanitarian law and may constitute war crimes
Iranian authorities killed and injured civilians in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in violation of international humanitarian law, and as part of a wider pattern of strikes on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Amnesty International said today.
The conflict – which began after the USA and Israel’s unlawful attacks against Iran on 28 February 2026 – sparked a series of attacks by Iranian authorities and allied armed groups on the Gulf region, including against civilian infrastructure throughout the GCC with at least 28 deaths and hundreds of injuries reported to date.
There has been very little documentation of Iranian attacks on the GCC due to restrictions on access to information by GCC governments. However, Amnesty International was able to investigate two illustrative attacks by Iranian authorities in March 2026 which killed four civilians and injured at least 12, and which most likely used Shahed drones.
“The conflict in the Middle East has had a devastating impact on civilians, with thousands killed and injured across the region. Civilians are paying with their lives in attacks by Iran that must be investigated as war crimes,” said Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Regional Director.
“Iranian authorities must immediately stop targeting civilian infrastructure. Those responsible must be held accountable, and victims have the right to justice, truth and reparations.”
Civilians are paying with their lives in attacks by Iran that must be investigated as war crimes
Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Regional Director
In total, Amnesty International interviewed 21 people: 15 witnesses of the attacks on civilian infrastructure in the GCC, and six family members of victims. Interviewees lived in a range of countries across the region, including in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Amnesty International wrote to the governments of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in March to request further information about the impact of the attacks on civilian infrastructure, but did not receive a response. On 3 June 2026, Amnesty International wrote to the Iranian authorities, requesting information on the documented attacks. By the time of publication, no response had been received.
Under international humanitarian law, parties to a conflict have an obligation to distinguish at all times between combatants and military objectives, on the one hand, and civilians and civilian objects, on the other hand. It is prohibited to directly attack civilians and civilian objects, such as civilian infrastructure.
Parties to a conflict must also take constant care to spare civilians and civilian objects during military operations, including by taking all feasible precautions to avoid or minimize incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects during attacks. Direct attacks, as well as indiscriminate attacks which kill or injure civilians or damage civilian objects, constitute war crimes.