US conducts 'illegal' strikes in Iran, civilian casualties feared

June 22, 2025 by News Desk

In a grave escalation that has drawn international condemnation, the United States has joined Israel in launching airstrikes on Iran.

The strikes, confirmed by former US President Donald Trump, mark Washington’s first direct military assault on Iranian territory in the ongoing hostilities, raising alarms about a wider war in West Asia.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a strong condemnation of the US action, calling it “a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security.” Guterres warned that the conflict could spiral out of control with “catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world,” and urged all countries to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter.

“There is no military solution,” he said. “The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace.”

Calling the attack illegal, U.S. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said, “The President’s disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers. He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.”

The US claimed that it deployed B-2 stealth bombers to strike the heavily fortified Fordow site using six GBU-57 bunker buster bombs. Additional cruise missiles targeted Natanz and Isfahan, all of which have been under IAEA monitoring.

Trump celebrated the attack as a “historic moment,” despite warnings from international legal experts that such unilateral use of force violates international law.

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization condemned the attacks, calling them an assault on its peaceful nuclear industry. Tehran vowed to pursue legal remedies through international platforms and warned it would not halt its scientific advancements under pressure.

Local media in Iran reported that several civilians were killed in the airstrikes, with some of the affected areas lying near populated zones. Emergency responders are reportedly still working through the rubble at some of the impacted sites.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s decision, claiming it would set Iran’s programme back by years.

However, major powers including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the European Union have called for restraint and demanded an immediate end to hostilities.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has scheduled an emergency summit in Istanbul to discuss what it has termed “an illegal and unjustifiable act of aggression.”