NEW YORK: The UN human rights chief on Thursday condemned escalating attacks on major oil and gas facilities alongside strikes on densely populated areas, warning that the widening regional conflict is exacting a growing toll on civilians.
“Almost three weeks since the US-Israel strikes on Iran commenced, the conflict continues to spread, with its toll disproportionately impacting civilians across the Middle East region and beyond,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement.
Turk said the targeting of critical energy infrastructure, including South Pars in Iran and Ras Laffan in Qatar, marked a dangerous escalation.
“Attacks on energy infrastructure … will only compound hardship. Disastrous humanitarian, economic and environmental consequences will be triggered if such attacks continue, resulting in deep harm to civilians — potentially for years to come,” he said.
He warned that hostilities were increasingly shifting toward densely populated areas as well as vital infrastructure.
