Law and War: Experts Question Legality of US-Israeli Strikes on Iran

Most legal experts say the US and Israel’s initial strikes on Iran were unlawful, citing a lack of evidence for an imminent threat and contested interpretations of self-defence under Article 51. The UK’s participation in defensive actions is legally murky, depending on whether it accepts a regional request and how proportionate responses are deemed. Iran’s retaliation raises its own legal questions: while self‑defence is possible, attacks on civilians and on non‑party states may breach international humanitarian law, complicating the legality of all sides’ actions.