Attacks on Essential Infrastructure Will Have Catastrophic Consequences for Millions of Civilians Across the Region

April 6, 2026 — In the context of the ongoing threats and attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure across the region, including power plants, water treatment facilities, and bridges, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) urgently reminds all parties to the current conflict of their binding obligations under international humanitarian law, including the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols. These legal frameworks establish fundamental protections for civilians during armed conflict, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precautions in attack. They strictly prohibit directing attacks against civilians or civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate or