Iran: Deadly drone strikes on Bahrain and Saudi Arabia may constitute war crimes – new research

Date: 2026-06-18 14:03:53 Source: XHS Cloud Report Author: Microservices

• Four civilians killed and 12 injured in two strikes
• Iranian Shahed drones most likely used in attacks on civilian infrastructure
• Attacks violated international humanitarian law and may constitute war crimes

Iranian authorities killed and injured civilians in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in violation of international humanitarian law, and as part of a wider pattern of strikes on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Amnesty International said today.

The conflict – which began after the USA and Israel’s unlawful attacks against Iran on 28 February 2026 – sparked a series of attacks by Iranian authorities and allied armed groups on the Gulf region, including against civilian infrastructure throughout the GCC with at least 28 deaths and hundreds of injuries reported to date.

There has been very little documentation of Iranian attacks on the GCC due to restrictions on access to information by GCC governments.  However, Amnesty International was able to investigate two illustrative attacks by Iranian authorities in March 2026 which killed four civilians and injured at least 12, and which most likely used Shahed drones.

“The conflict in the Middle East has had a devastating impact on civilians, with thousands killed and injured across the region. Civilians are paying with their lives in attacks by Iran that must be investigated as war crimes,” said Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Regional Director.

“Iranian authorities must immediately stop targeting civilian infrastructure. Those responsible must be held accountable, and victims have the right to justice, truth and reparations.”

Civilians are paying with their lives in attacks by Iran that must be investigated as war crimes

Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Regional Director

In total, Amnesty International interviewed 21 people: 15 witnesses of the attacks on civilian infrastructure in the GCC, and six family members of victims. Interviewees lived in a range of countries across the region, including in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Amnesty International wrote to the governments of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in March to request further information about the impact of the attacks on civilian infrastructure, but did not receive a response. On 3 June 2026, Amnesty International wrote to the Iranian authorities, requesting information on the documented attacks. By the time of publication, no response had been received.

Under international humanitarian law, parties to a conflict have an obligation to distinguish at all times between combatants and military objectives, on the one hand, and civilians and civilian objects, on the other hand. It is prohibited to directly attack civilians and civilian objects, such as civilian infrastructure.

Parties to a conflict must also take constant care to spare civilians and civilian objects during military operations, including by taking all feasible precautions to avoid or minimize incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects during attacks. Direct attacks, as well as indiscriminate attacks which kill or injure civilians or damage civilian objects, constitute war crimes.

Bahrain: Attack on oil tanker

On 2 March 2026, between approximately 2am and 3am, two munitions – most likely Shahed drones – launched by Iran forces struck the MT Stena Imperativeoil tanker while it was in dry dock undergoing repairs at the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY) in Al Hidd, Bahrain. One weapon struck the top deck of the ship’s bow while civilian workers were repairing and repainting the ship.

Analysis of 28 photos and videos of the aftermath of the strike show a level of damage and fragment spray pattern consistent with the use of a Shahed drone. Fragments from the warhead were also embedded in the decking and mechanical systems of the ship.

One man was killed, and two others were seriously injured. Amnesty International interviewed five witnesses and family members of the victims. The man killed was SM Tareq, a Bangladeshi employee of ASRY.

A worker who witnessed Tareq’s death said: “I saw one of my friends on fire, and he had his brain coming out of his head.”

Another witness of the attack said: “A co-worker… saw Tareq caught in the blast, something from the back of his head was coming out, and many other workers started crying saying, ‘Tareq is no more’.”

Riaz Uddin, SM Tareq’s brother-in-law, said: “Tareq called me to say that he and others were afraid of the attacks, because several missile attacks had happened. Tareq requested that we pray for him, that they stay safe and can return home.”

The Stena Imperativeis a civilian tanker owned by Stena Bulk, a Swedish company. According to media reports, Iranian forces had previously attempted to strike and seize the ship in February 2026. The ship had in the past been contracted by the US Maritime Administration’s Tanker Security Program to move fuel for the US military.

However, when struck on 2 March 2026, the ship remained a civilian object under international humanitarian law and, at the time of the attack, it was docked at a civilian repair yard while civilian workers were conducting repairs, not participating in military operations.

Based on the precise nature of the weapon used, the Iranian authorities announcement of drone attacks against Bahrain on that day, and the history of Iranian force’s attempted targeting of the vessel, the attack likely constitutes a direct attack on civilians and a civilian object, and therefore possibly a war crime.

Saudi Arabia: Attack on labour camp

On 8 March 2026, an Iranian munition struck a labour camp in Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia, at approximately 4pm. Three men were killed, and at least 10 more injured, some with life-changing injuries requiring months of hospitalization. All of the victims were civilians who worked for Al Twaik cleaning company, providing general janitor services and grounds maintenance in the region.

Amnesty International interviewed six witnesses of the attack and family members of the victims. The organization also analyzed 26 photos and videos of the aftermath of the attack, and reviewed satellite imagery. Based on the damage caused, it is likely a Shahed drone launched by Iranian authorities or one of its allied armed groups was used in the attack.

One witness told Amnesty International: “One worker, the blast turned him into pieces, and I could smell him burning. The second worker had his legs broken and something pierced his head. The third was screaming, ‘Save me’. Three of them died: two died on the spot, and one was taken to hospital and died there.”

The attack occurred during the month of Ramadan, and the victims were resting or preparing for iftar (breaking fast at sunset during Ramadan) when they died. Musharaff Hussain, aged 42, and Abdullah Mamun, both Bangladeshi, were killed. Another victim was Bachchu Mia, approximately 35 years old. He was also Bangladeshi and had been working in Saudi Arabia for eight years.

Josna Akher, Bachchu Mia’s wife and mother of his three children, told Amnesty International: “After having Iftarand prayer in Bangladesh, I called my husband, and he said he would call back in 10 minutes but he never called back. Another number called and said he died in a missile attack. I lost my temper, I lost my control, I don’t know what they were saying. They were crying and shouting on the other side.

“He worked for Al Twaik, cleaning. He tried to hide his suffering, he said his salary was insufficient but he worked hard, he cooked and cleaned… Whenever he got any time he used to call me, sometimes every two or three hours.”

All the witnesses said no military forces, either US or Saudi, were ever in the labour camp prior to the attack. Reuters reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it was targeting radar facilities.

Prince Sultan Air Base, which is approximately 15km away and the site of a significant US military presence, including radars, was attacked regularly by Iranian authorities between 28 February and 7 April and was the likely target in this case as well.

While various scenarios may explain why the labour camp was struck instead – including that the Iranian weapon malfunctioned – the strike should be investigated as an indiscriminate attack, as Iranian authorities failed to distinguish between military objectives and civilians or civilian objects, which would amount to a war crime.

Attacks across GCC

Amnesty International spoke to witnesses of attacks on the Abu Dhabi International Airport, on hotels in Dubai in the UAE, and on water plants and liquid natural gas facilities in Qatar. All described waves of drones flying overhead and interception by local air defence; some drones got through defence systems and struck civilian infrastructure, which is critical for providing basic services, such as water, or for the economies of the region, such as petroleum facilities.

Other civilian infrastructure was also damaged due to falling debris from intercepted Iranian missiles and drones.

One worker at a plant in Qatar told Amnesty International: “In the beginning of the war there were two or three [waves of] attacks a day, with 40 or 50 drones or missiles. I saw every one of them so close… In our labour camp there was no direct hit, but debris dropped indirectly. In our work site [at the plant], one [drone or missile] directly hit… Sometimes I would worry what if I am caught in the blast, I am here for my family but what if something happens to me.”

After the war began, authorities across Gulf states initiated a sweeping, war-related crackdown on freedom of expression arresting more than 1,000 people, including for sharing online content or expressing views related to the conflict and Iran’s attacks on the Gulf.

Workers expressed a fear in sharing their experiences with Amnesty International, due to the threat of deportation to their home countries by the state authorities. One hotel worker in Dubai, originally from Nepal, said: “It’s very dangerous to speak from here. Many people made videos of the attacks, uploaded them to the social media, and went to jail. They [state authorities] don’t want bad news. Our [boss] said don’t talk about it, no bad news. If a local family takes a video, it’s six months in jail. If it’s a worker, then right to the airport.”

Background

Civilians in Iran suffered grave harm amid relentless US and Israeli air strikes between 28 February and 7 April 2026. The air strikes killed at least 2,362 civilians, including 383 children, and injured more than 32,314 civilians, according to official figures, and caused extensive destruction and damage to civilian infrastructure.

As of 3 June 2026, it has been reported that approximately 28 civilians have been killed and hundreds more injured across the six GCC states in attacks by Iranian authorities or allied armed groups since February 2026.

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