Tehran – When war breaks out, news usually focuses on the tragic loss of human life, injuries, and damage to buildings and infrastructure. But behind these visible fears is something invisible, yet invisible, misery, as a result of war.
When a region is attacked, it is not just people and property that pays the price. Nature is also suffering. They often suffer in ways that take decades to heal. Damage to wildlife habitats, forests and ecosystems can be devastating and sometimes permanent.
In the recent 12-day war of attacks on Iran, the Iranians lamented the loss of precious lives they lost. It is no surprise that significant damage has been caused to residential areas, public services, healthcare facilities and critical infrastructure. They are all condemned as war crimes under international humanitarian law and must be documented with the aim of explaining to criminals. However, there was little impact on nature.
Every explosion caused the environment to be harmed. Not only did the bombs and explosives kill and hurt fellow humans, they also hurt their mother’s nature by sending toxic gases and particles into the air, threatening public health and safety.
The war caused serious pollution that contaminated the air, water and soil, releasing large amounts of greenhouse gases. In Tehran alone, the destruction of the building left over more than 150,000 tons of debris. The bombing fuel storage tank ignited nearly 19.5 million liters of fuel, sending dangerous pollutants and greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Additional attacks on energy facilities in the Southpurs area poured out more harmful emissions.
These emissions exacerbate the global climate crisis as well as the local issues. At a time when every country is working hard to reduce greenhouse gases and keep its international climate promises, wars like this undermine those efforts and place an even greater burden on our vulnerable planets.
The Israeli regime did not care about the rule of international humanitarian law, so the current climate of this military attack was widespread. Reports show that the attack caused wildfires in 13 protected areas in Iran, scorching around 9,000 hectares of land, destroying ranger stations and vehicles to protect these precious environments.
The environmental costs of modern warfare are often ignored, but their effects reach far beyond conflict zones and affect adjacent areas. We put our ecosystems, our human health and the future of everyone who shares this planet. To truly address this crisis, environmental concerns must become a central part of the global security conversation, and those responsible for such destruction must be held accountable as war criminals.
Any damage caused by the Israeli regime’s military attacks to the Iranian environment and natural habitats, faunas and flora must be taken seriously by the relevant international commissioners and shall be documented as a serious violation of international humanitarian law. This is the common responsibility of all decent people of conscience who cares about the health and happiness of our planet.
Without action, the price of war continues to expand far beyond the battlefield, threatening planets and generations.