Human Rights Watch:

At least five Iranian ballistic missiles struck populated areas of Israel during the June 2025 armed conflict in violation of the laws of war and should be investigated as war crimes, Human Rights Watch said today. These five missiles, which killed 20 civilians and damaged a hospital, were among the approximately 50 missiles that impacted in Israel, out of 550 launched in total.

Iran’s ballistic missile attacks were in response to a series of attacks by Israel on Iran that began on June 13, and, with direct US involvement, continued until June 25. Human Rights Watch documented five strikes in which Iranian ballistic missiles hit civilian residences that were 1.5 to 9 kilometers from military sites in Israel. Four of these strikes killed and wounded civilians in the cities of Bat Yam, Tamra, Be’er Sheva, and Petah Tikva, and one strike hit the Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva, injuring patients and staff.

“While relatively few Iranian ballistic missiles got through Israeli defenses during the 12-day conflict, those that did frequently struck populated areas with no evident military targets,” said Ida Sawyer, crisis, conflict and arms director at Human Rights Watch. “Attacks on civilian structures without a military objective are unlawfully indiscriminate and those responsible are liable for war crimes.”

Human Rights Watch has previously reported on Israeli attacks on populated areas in Iran in violation of the laws of war. 

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