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Human Rights Watch wrote an open letter to the UK Attorney General on March 23, 2026, seeking urgent clarification on what legal safeguards the British government has in place to ensure that US military strikes on Iran, launched from UK military bases, comply with international humanitarian law. The letter raises serious questions about the UK's potential complicity in violations of the laws of armed conflict.
The Background: UK Bases, US Strikes, and the War with Iran
On March 1, 2026, the UK Prime Minister confirmed that the United Kingdom had agreed to a US request to use British military bases for what he described as the "specific and limited defensive purpose" of taking out Iran's capacity to launch attacks. The UK-published legal summary cited collective self-defence of Gulf allies and the protection of British lives, but made no mention of obligations under international humanitarian law (IHL).
The context for HRW's concern is stark: on February 28, an attack on Tayyebeh primary school in Minab, southern Iran reportedly killed 168 civilians including schoolchildren. A Pentagon preliminary inquiry found US responsibility, attributing the attack to outdated targeting data. Since President Trump's second term, the US Defense Department has also systematically dismantled civilian harm-mitigation mechanisms, including abolishing "civilian environment teams."
In circumstances where the UK clearly has a degree of influence over the US in relation to the strikes conducted from its bases, the UK should be taking proactive steps, beyond limiting the permissible targets, to ensure that the US respects international humanitarian law.
Human Rights Watch letter to the UK Attorney General, March 23, 2026
The Legal Questions
HRW argues that under Common Article 1 of the Geneva Conventions, the UK has a duty to ensure respect for IHL — including by states it is supporting in armed conflict. By granting the US use of its military bases and reportedly conditioning the scope of that use, the UK has demonstrated it has meaningful influence over US conduct. This heightens its obligations under IHL.
Under Article 16 of the Articles on State Responsibility, a state that knowingly provides aid or assistance in the commission of an internationally wrongful act bears independent legal responsibility. HRW asks whether the UK monitors the outcomes of individual strikes, what steps it takes if civilian casualties occur, and what conduct by the US would cause the UK to suspend base access.
A Precedent With Global Implications
HRW also notes that the UK has not fully extended the International Criminal Court Act to all of its overseas territories, including the British Indian Ocean Territory (Diego Garcia base). The letter calls on the government to address this gap, and to clearly state that its IHL obligations apply to all territories where military bases operate.
Source: Human Rights Watch — UK Letter to Attorney General on US Strikes on Iran from British Bases
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