The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has warned that the escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel and the wider Middle East could trigger a global crisis, with civilians suffering the most.
He said attacks on civilian infrastructure may constitute war crimes and called on all states to act urgently to end the conflict.
Speaking on Wednesday in Geneva, Türk said the situation had become extremely dangerous following weeks of military strikes and retaliatory attacks across the region.
“The situation is extremely dangerous and unpredictable, and has created chaos across the region,” he said, adding that the conflict has affected Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and other countries.
According to the UN human rights chief, civilians have suffered heavily since the start of hostilities, with missile and drone attacks hitting both military and civilian locations.
“Strikes and interceptions have caused terrible harm to civilians, including dozens of deaths and injuries,” he said.
Türk said critical infrastructure had also been damaged during the conflict, including ports, energy facilities, airports, water infrastructure and diplomatic premises, disrupting essential services and increasing risks to civilians.
He warned that many of the strikes carried out during the conflict raise serious concerns under international law.
“Many of the strikes in this conflict raise serious concerns under international law, which prohibits attacks targeting civilians and their infrastructure,” he said.
Türk also warned of the risk of further escalation, particularly after missile strikes were reported near nuclear sites in both Israel and Iran.
“Recent missile strikes near nuclear sites in both Israel and Iran reaffirm the immense danger of further escalation. States are flirting with unmitigated catastrophe,” he said.
The conflict has also had severe humanitarian consequences in several countries, including Lebanon, where hundreds of civilians have reportedly been killed in recent weeks.
“Civilians in Lebanon are caught up in a human rights and humanitarian disaster,” he said, expressing concern about attacks on apartment buildings that killed entire families.
Türk said civilians in Israel had also been affected by missile and drone attacks launched by Iran and Hezbollah, which had caused deaths, infrastructure damage and displacement.
Inside Iran, he said civilians were sheltering from airstrikes across the country, with Iranian government figures reporting around 1,400 civilian deaths and more than 20,000 injuries.
“There is a growing pattern of strikes affecting residential areas, civilian infrastructure, and other sites that are protected under international law,” he said.
He also raised concerns about human rights inside Iran during the conflict, including arrests, executions, intimidation and internet shutdowns.
As the conflict continues, Türk warned that its impact is being felt far beyond the Middle East, particularly due to disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
“The disruption by Iran of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is affecting global supply chains, with dire implications for some of the world’s poorest people,” he said.
He said the disruption was affecting supplies of fuel, medicine, food and fertilisers, and could lead to hunger and healthcare crises around the world.
The World Food Programme has also warned that millions more people could fall into hunger if the conflict continues, while rising shipping and insurance costs are increasing global prices.
Türk said the conflict had already caused major economic losses across the Arab region and warned that the global economic consequences remain unpredictable.
“Conflict can never be ordinary or standard. But this conflict has an unprecedented power to ensnare countries across borders and around the world,” he said.
He urged all countries, especially those with influence, to take immediate action to end the conflict.
“The only guaranteed way to prevent this is to end the conflict,” he said.
Türk also called on all parties involved to respect international humanitarian and human rights law.
“Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure must end. If they are deliberate, such attacks may constitute war crimes,” he said.
He concluded by expressing solidarity with civilians affected by the conflict.
“I stand in solidarity with civilians across the region, who are crying out for peace,” he said.