UN official backs Iranian strikes on US bases, declares Israeli strikes illegal

Greek jurist appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council denounces US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, says the Islamic Republic has a right to self-defense and can justifiably bomb American bases across the Middle East.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

An official working for the United Nations Human Rights Council has denounced American and Israeli airstrikes on the Iranian regime, claiming Israel’s stated goals for its air campaign make the action illegal.

On Wednesday, Al Jazeera published an interview with Georgios Katrougalos, a Greek jurist serving as the UNHRC’s Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order.

Katrougalos, a former Greek Foreign Minister and member of the radical left-wing Syriza party, said that Israel’s justifications for its strikes on Iran are “illegal,” rejecting Jerusalem’s criticism of Iran’s nuclear program.

In the interview, Katrougalos said that Iran has in the past signed on to an international agreement in which it pledged to limit its nuclear program to peaceful purposes. The 62-year-old international law expert ignored Iran’s violations of the nuclear deal, including its enrichment of uranium to levels far beyond those used for civilian purposes.

In an apparent defense of Iran’s recent attacks on American military bases across the Middle East, Katrougalos emphasized his support for Iran’s “right to self-defense,” so long as it does not extend beyond attacks on military targets.

“Iran’s right to self-defense is acceptable according to international law, but it should be limited to military objectives only, such as US bases in the region with regard to proportionality,” Katrougalos said.

“Targeting civilian facilities, including airports, energy projects, water plants and embassies, is against international law.”

Since the launch of America’s Operation Epic Fury and Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, Iran has struck dozens of civilian sites across the Middle East, including in Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.

Roughly two dozen civilians have been killed in Iranian missile and drone attacks.

Six American service members have also been killed since the conflict began Saturday morning.