Recent attacks by Iran and Israel could amount to international crimes of aggression, UN experts said on Tuesday.
“These retaliatory strikes violate state sovereignty and represent a dangerous escalation of conflict in a region already on a knife-edge,” they said.
“Both strikes may also constitute the international crime of aggression by civilian and military leaders responsible.”
The independent experts said Israel broke international law with its attack on an Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus on April 1, while Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Saturday were a “prohibited use of force under international law”.
Israel’s operation may have been serious enough to qualify as an “armed attack” on Iran, since its targets were senior military commanders on a diplomatic premises, the experts said.
They pointed out that illegal force was used not only against Iran’s armed forces but also against Syrian territory.
“Israel’s attack was partly launched from the Golan Heights, which is illegally annexed Syrian territory,” they said.
Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Tuesday that Tehran would not get off “scot-free” after Iran and allied militias launched a barrage of more than 300 missiles, drones and rockets at Israel at the weekend.
Israel vows to respond to Iran's missile and drone attack – video
“We cannot stand still from this kind of aggression,” Admiral Hagari said, vowing there would “a response” to Iran's offensive.
Iran claimed its attack was an act of self-defence and that it would deem the matter “concluded” unless Israel retaliates.
The experts noted, however, that Iran had no right to claim self-defence for its attack on Saturday as Israel’s attack had concluded on April 1.
“Self-defence is only lawful where is it necessary to stop a continuing armed attack. Forcible retaliation, punishment or deterrence are illegal,” they said.
They also noted that Israel's initial right to self-defence in response to Iran's assault at the weekend no longer applies, as the attack has been “successfully repelled”.
The timing and target of possible Israeli retaliation uncertain, as does whether Israel would attack Iran directly or its allies in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq or Yemen.
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi said that “the slightest action against Iran's interests will definitely be met with a severe, extensive and painful response”.
The experts urged the UN Security Council to uphold its duty to address the actions of any state that pose a threat to international peace and security.
Israel's strike on Iran embassy compound in Damascus – in pictures
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
The specs
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Results
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $36,000 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: RB Money To Burn, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Turf) 2,410m, Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Trophy – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (T) 1,900m, Winner: Secret Protector, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 - Group 2 (TB) $293,000 (D) 1,900m, Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
8.50pm: Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (T) 1,000m, Winner: Motafaawit, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
Normal People
Sally Rooney, Faber & Faber
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
U19 World Cup in South Africa
Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka
Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies
Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe
Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE
UAE fixtures
Saturday, January 18, v Canada
Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan
Saturday, January 25, v South Africa
UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Vriitya Aravind, Deshan Chethyia, Mohammed Farazuddin, Jonathan Figy, Osama Hassan, Karthik Meiyappan, Rishabh Mukherjee, Ali Naseer, Wasi Shah, Alishan Sharafu, Sanchit Sharma, Kai Smith, Akasha Tahir, Ansh Tandon
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
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